By Tabor College Athletics
HILLSBORO, Kan (TaborBluejays.com) – First-year Bluejay Women’s Soccer Head Coach Thomas Gaskell made his official debut on the pitch Friday afternoon as the Lady Bluejays took on the College of Saint Mary at Vernon Wiebe Field.
The Flames of College of Saint Mary came into Hillsboro after falling to Jamestown at home last Sunday, 2-0. Tabor looked to build on experienced gained during last Monday’s scrimmage with Seward County Community College, and the warm, sunny weather was the perfect setting for the season opener. The Bluejays typically call Joel H. Wiens Stadium home, but due to a community event, the stadium was unavailable, paving the way for the match to be played on the beautiful natural grass pitch at Vernon Wiebe Field on the edge of the Tabor College campus.
Both squads came out aggressive, putting on a show soccer fans would dream about. The Flames got in a shot on goal just outside the first minute, with Neve Mulrooney snagging her first career save between the pipes. Not to be outdone, the Lady Bluejays put up a threat of their own less than a minute later with Taylor Nye taking two shots and Haven Deckinger taking one.
The Bluejays threatened again around the 10:19 mark, with Raegan King taking the shot that was ultimately blocked by the Flames’ keeper Alivia Schade. CSM answered with a shot of their own, but still failed to find the net. 20 seconds later, around the 12:57 mark, the Bluejays were charged with a handball violation in the box, which set up a penalty kick for the Flames. Aubrey Vancura put the Flames on the board with the penalty shot. Both teams continued to go back and forth to no avail as the time ran out in the first half.
Tabor didn’t take long to strike, as Deckinger served up a beautiful ball to Jami Dooley, who evened the score for the Bluejays at the 49:54 mark. The Bluejays continued to mount their attack, with King and April Ochoa taking shots, and Deckinger and Nye nearly striking again, only for Schade to notch two more saves on the day. King was assessed with a yellow card at the 89:00 mark, and the Bluejays embarked on yet another trek towards the Flames’ net as time ran out. The match ultimately ended in a 1-1 draw but offered plenty of action and excitement.
“I was really happy with the performance and effort of the girls as a whole”, said Head Coach Thomas Gaskell. “We created lots of good chances and with a little more composure in the attacking third would have won the game. But overall, we played well and laid a solid foundation for the rest of the season”
The Lady Bluejays return to the pitch this Tuesday, August 27th as they head south to Chickasha, Okla. to take on the Drovers of the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma at 5 PM.
