SPORTS
October 15-28, 2009 • The Journal
Page 9 • www.webujournal.com
WU falters twice in home tri-match WU wins one of seven sets in non-conference action against Central College and Elmhurst College
BY BRITTNEY FRENCH Staff Writer
The Webster University women’s volleyball team continued to struggle in non-conference games, losing 3-1 to Central College Saturday, Oct. 10, in the Dig Pink National Breast Cancer Awareness match. “We’re just really struggling in our non-conference schedule,” said senior setter Abby Williams. “I feel like we come into our non-conference games intimidated and thinking we can only win in our conference.” From the beginning of the first set, it was evident the set would go down to the wire. WU was able to stay within just a few points of Central throughout most of the set, giving them a chance to win. But toward the end, Central was able to take steady control of the lead, beating WU 25-20. The Gorloks saw the second set quickly slip away. Central
took the upper hand early in the round — thanks to strong offensive attacks — creating a clear outlook of the game that didn’t seem to be in the Gorloks’ favor. WU lost 25-11. “We got really down in those first and second games,” Williams said. “We lacked intensity and energy.” Unlike the first two games, WU managed to come out on top during the third set with a 25- 21 win, despite sophomore outside hitter Kylie Schweiss being subbed out for lower leg pain. Schweiss suffered an Achilles’ tendon injury early in the year, and has battled it throughout the season. “We really picked it up that round,” Williams said. “We found some ways to score. Sometimes you just have to be smarter than the other team and find ways to score, which we did. They’re a beatable team.” With a win under their belt,
WU could have tied the game by prevailing in the fourth set, but they let it slip away toward the end of the round and lost 25-20. “I thought we played inconsistent,” said head coach Merry Graf. “Unfortunately, when you play tough opponents, you really have to play top-notch and we weren’t able to do that today.” WU later played again that day in the Dig Pink match against Elmhurst College and lost 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-17). “We weren’t really playing like ourselves today,” said junior outside hitter Mary Jo Schweitzer. “In the one game we won (against Central College), we played a lot better than the other ones, but we just couldn’t come through.” With the loss, the Gorloks dropped to 2-9 in games outside the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Dig Pink is a national breast cancer awareness rally, spon-
sored by the Side Out Foundation, and is held throughout the month of October. Each year, hundreds of high schools and colleges host Dig Pink volleyball matches to help fight breast cancer by raising awareness and money for research. “We play in the Dig Pink match every year,” said Graf. “The girls get excited because they get to wear pink ribbons in their hair and it’s nice to do something for the community.” WU is currently 12-9 for the season. They hit the road for Fulton, Mo., this week, when they play a tri-match against Blackburn College and Westminster College on Oct. 17. WU will not return to Grant Gymnasium until the final week of the regular season, Oct. 27 through Nov. 3.
Sophomore outside hitter Kylie Schweiss spikes against blocker Katie Huff from Central College during the “Dig Pink” day in Grant Gymnasium. The Gorloks lost to the Dutch, 3-1, on October 10. Webster also lost to Elmhurst College 3-0, as WU was swept in its first home tri-match of the season. “Dig Pink” is an event designed to raise money for breast cancer awareness.
SAM DITTMANN / The Journal
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Capkovic nears milestone in WU win Junior forward scores first goal in 2-0 win over Blackburn College, is one goal away from school’s career record
BY JONATHAN WEBB Sports Editor
In their past two games, the Webster University women’s soccer team proved it could put the ball in the net, combining for 11 goals in the team’s games against Principia College and Fontbonne University. However, they also proved a prolific offensive output does not always equal success, as the Gorloks allowed eight goals in their last two contests, splitting the two games. In order to reverse the trend, WU adopted a more methodical, conservative approach in a 2-0 win against Blackburn College on Oct. 13. “I think we just adjusted ourselves to defense first, and wanted to get organized and ready for better teams we’ll play,” said senior defender Jessica Schellerup. Compounding the issues with containing the opposition, WU played the entire game without senior midfielder Jenna Steiner and junior forward Megan Niederschulte. In their place was an army of sophomore midfielders including, Jordan Geller, Amanda Zeier, Lindsey Owens, and Candice Evans. “They’re definitely a big part of our team,” said junior forward Christy Capkovic, of being forced to play without two of the team’s top players. “It’ll be nice to get Megan back, and see her healthy.” Freshman Caroline Schmidt also received her first start at sweeper, replacing the injured Izzy Sherfy, who was lost for the season to a torn ACL in her right knee in last week’s 5-3
loss to Principia College. Freshman goaltender Shelby Wade, who has started five of the Gorloks’ last six games, was once again between the pipes for WU. Wade was challenged infrequently, as WU managed to keep the ball in its offensive zone for the majority of the game. Despite the inaction, Wade collected her fourth solo shutout of the season. With the makeshift lineup, the Gorloks were held scoreless through the first half. They scored their first goal four minutes into the second half, as junior forward Christy Capkovic netted her 20th goal of the season on a crossing pass from junior midfielder Kelsey McClure. McClure narrowly missed an opportunity to pad the onegoal lead, as her point-blank shot careened off the right goalpost. Evans capped the scoring with a header in the 69th minute. The goal for Capkovic left her one goal shy of Niki Martinez for the team’s all-time scoring record of 58 goals. There may be more milestones ahead for Capkovic, who is only three goals away from McClure’s single-season record of 24 goals. “Players like (Capkovic and Martinez) don’t come along often, and when they do, you appreciate their skills,” said WU head coach Luigi Scire. “Christy is going to reSAM DITTMANN / The Journal write the record books, and she de- Junior forward Christy Capkovic kicks the ball past Blackburn defender Jean Cruse. The Gorloks defeated the Beavers 2-1 Oct. 13 at Anheuser-Busch Soccer serves to. She’s a great player.” Park. Capkovic scored once, leaving her one score from tying the all-time scoring record for Webster. The win was a rebound victory for WU, after the Gorloks Contact the writer:
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Men’s Soccer
Overall SLIAC Webster 8-2 4-0 Greenville 10-4 3-0 Principia 10-1 3-1 Spalding 9-2 2-1 Fontbonne 5-8-1 3-2 Blackburn 6-6 1-3 Eureka 3--9 1-3 Westminster 3-8 1-4 MacMurray 1-12 0-4 *Through Oct. 13
Women’s Soccer Principia Greenville Webster Fontbonne Westminster Blackburn Eureka Spalding MacMurray
Overall SLIAC 8-3-1 4-0 3-0 3-0 9-2 2-1 5-9 3-2 2-8 2-2 3-7 1-3 3-9 1-3 0-7-1 0-2-1 3-9-1 0-3-1
*Through Oct. 13
dropped their previous conference game, 5-3, against Principia College Oct. 6.
Volleyball Overall SLIAC Webster Spalding Greenville Fontbonne Principia Eureka Westminster MacMurray Blackburn * Through Oct. 13
Want to write sports for the Journal? Contact Jonathan Webb at editor@ webujournal.com
12-9 17-4 11-9 6-16 11-9 9-15 7-13 1-16 0-21
10-0 9-1 7-3 6-4 5-5 5-5 2-7 1-9 0-11
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