The DePauw women's soccer team is finally starting to find some offense. And that discovery is paying off, as the women won two of their past three games.
The Tigers, now 2-3, went to St. Louis last weekend for the Washington University in St. Louis Invitational. The team opened its weekend Saturday with a disappointing loss to the Washington University Bears 2-3. DePauw bounced back and won in an impressive offensive showing against Fontbonne University 4-0.
The Tigers jumped on the Washington University early when senior forward Alex Ehr put the Tigers up 1-0 in the sixth minute. Freshman midfielder Chloe Jacob scored in minute 15 — her first collegiate goal — to give the Tigers a two goal lead.
"We finished the first half up by two, despite the fact that the ball was in our box for most of the first half," said junior Caroline Kerr. "Coming out for the second half we didn't bring the same offensive energy that helped us in the first half. Wash. U. came out stronger than we expected and seemed to outplay us both physically and mentally."
The Bears scored 32 seconds into the second half and added two more goals before the final whistle, beating the Tigers 3-2.
Head Coach John Carter thought his team played very well Saturday but should have closed the game out with a victory.
"They were a more experienced, mature team and we couldn't play the way they played because we aren't as big and strong," Carter said. "We need to play our game and take control of the match."
The team came out on Sunday ready to play, jumping on Fontbonne and not looking back. The Tigers won in a 4-0 shutout with goals from junior Dana Sprague, senior Lauren Hannan and Ehr.
"We were all over them, and played our game and controlled the pace of the match," Carter said.
The Tigers have struggled on offense since last season and in the first two games of this season.
That has changed in the last week, as the team scored an impressive 10 goals in three games while only giving up three.
"We have started scoring goals, and now we need to make sure we don't give up goals," Carter said. "We need to be more consistent with our style when the game is at a higher level."
The team is looking forward to the start of conference and what is to come for the rest of the season.
"Once we finalize our structure on the field, organization in the back and continue to learn a passing game to break down other teams, I know we'll see more success," Kerr said.
The team is back at work this week, preparing for its first conference game in the NCAC this Saturday at Denison University.