UVU women’s soccer team has lost its offensive mojo

Photo by Brad Curnow

In the game of soccer, holding opponents to one goal or no goals means that the team had a solid defensive effort. It also should mean that you get a result in the form of either a tie or a win. For the UVU women’s soccer team, the defensive effort has been there the entire season. They are allowing just 1.15 goals and the worst performance the Wolverines had was in their second match of the season, a 5-1 loss at Pac-12 powerhouse Arizona. Since that loss, UVU has allowed more than one goal just once, in a loss to Grand Canyon Oct. 9.

The problem is that the UVU offense hasn’t been able to put the ball in the back of the net. During the current three-game losing streak, the Wolverines have managed just one goal and it came in the 2-1 loss at Grand Canyon.

Senior Sheridan Fox led the Wolverines with eight goals in 2015, but has yet to score a goal in 2016. In fact, Fox started for the first time against CSU Bakersfield Oct. 7. The Wolverines have outplayed their last two opponents. According to the stats, they have outshot their opponents, had more corner kicks, more assists and more shots on goal. Yet, they sit at 6-6-1 on the season and have struggled recently to score goals.

Transfer Alexis Peterson leads the Wolverines with five goals on the season, which is impressive considering she has only started in two matches where she’s scored. Abby Jameson is second with two goals, with both goals coming from distance.

The question is, can the Wolverines get their offense on track as they come down the stretch in WAC play? Can freshman superstar Breanna DeWaal get on track? She leads UVU with 41 shots taken, but only has one goal to account for. Can Sheridan Fox find the back of the net and get some momentum going?

If the UVU offense can start to put points on the board, and with the Wolverine defense playing as well as they are, the sky is the limit. Another run at the WAC Tournament Championship is not out of the question. But in order to win, you have to score and that is where the Wolverines are lacking. It isn’t for lack of effort or hard work. In fact, there is no real reason why the Wolverines haven’t found the back of the net. With five matches left in the regular season, the need to score goals is imperative if the UVU is to repeat as WAC Champions. They need to find a way to put the ball in the goal and take some pressure off Kalli Suesue and the Wolverine defense.