Last week marked a change of events for the Bulls as they witnessed their Mid-American Conference post-season ticket game turn into a season-ender. The Bulls competed on Thursday looking to seal a seat in the MAC Tournament, but fell hard in their final competition to Kent State in an uncontested defeat.
The Bulls (8-10, 4-6 MAC) watched as the Kent State Golden Flashes (9-9-1, 6-5 MAC) took their MAC playoff spot Thursday by a score of 3-0.
Although the game was obviously a challenge for the Bulls, head coach Jean-A Tassy felt the pressure before the initial whistle even blew.
"We had two starting players missing due to injuries and we had to restructure the whole defense because of these injuries," Tassy said. "New players were playing certain spots and we had to do different little things. It made it very difficult to adjust, but we had no choice."
The Golden Flashes' Kimberly Dimitroff was fast to make a move in the match and marked a goal on the board just 53 seconds into the match. Dimitroff beat Bulls' goalkeeper, sophomore Amy Coron, in a one on one unassisted goal. The Golden Flashes maintained pressure on the Bulls defense as Kent State's Brittany Fracasso brought the score to 2-0 within the first 20 minutes of the game.
"I think we had a slow start and when we finally settled down we were already down by two," Tassy said. "We made a couple of mistakes really early and we coughed up two goals. You can't do that when you are trying to win a playoff slot."
The Bulls continued to fight throughout the game and found themselves with scoring opportunities during the match, but were never able to create a comeback. Sophomores Andrea Vescio and Brooke McCalla led the Bulls' offensive effort each with two shots on goal apiece. The Bulls were able to record six shots on goal, just three less than Kent States' nine shots on goal.
"I was standing on the side line and could just see the win was not in the cards," Tassy said. "We created some great opportunities. We had about three or four open situations right in the box that we either totally flopped, hit a defender or shot it right at the keeper. Those should be goals."
The final blow was dealt when the Golden Flashes' Lisa Kurz notched a third goal for Kent State in the 65th minute of the game. Kurz ripped an unassisted shot to the upper shelf past Coron. Coron was busy in goal saving six of the nine shots she faced.
Although the score may not have been a testament to it, the Bulls did provide a solid effort and Tassy notes the first few minutes of game as the team's downfall.
For the 2006 season, the Bulls had many significant contributors with five players in double digits in points for the season. Junior Heidi Griffiths led the team in total points with 14 (five goals, four assists). Vescio was the team leader in goals with six, and McCalla was the team leader in assists with six. Freshman Caitlin Higgins and junior Ashley Turner were also productive this season, each notching four goals and three assists for 11 points.
"We are a well rounded team," Tassy said. "(The opposing teams) can't pinpoint one player and shut the team down. We have shown that we are able to play. It was just the level of consistency that hurt us."
The Bulls competed in 18 matches this season, scoring 27 goals and giving up 37 goals. Two seniors, Lindsay Guarino and Jessica Roesch, will graduate from the Bulls' squad this year, but Tassy still has plans for the future.
"We are a young team and the majority of the players are returning," Tassy said. "In the off-season I also want to nurture the players to become students of the game. I want them to have an idea of the physical and tactical demands of their position."
With a game plan for the future, coach Tassy is optimistic for next season.
"We need to create a solid recruiting class to give us some depth and we will be the talk of the town in the MAC," Tassy said.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
