WPU offers Dordt fighting spirit in defeat at the start of the season | Sport

OSKALOOSA – The Statesmen women's soccer team fell short of expectations but showed many promising signs in a 5-1 loss to Dordt on Thursday.

William Penn (0-1) only had a better shot-on-goal ratio (12-4, 7-3 shots on goal) and played evenly with the Defenders (1-0) in the final 45 minutes of the game in Kaleb Preston's debut as head coach.

Unfortunately, the guests took advantage of their chances in the first half and took a 2-0 lead after just seven minutes.

DU then scored another goal in the 17th minute and capped the one-sided opening session with a fourth goal in the 44th minute.

The Navy Blue and Gold, who created a few good chances in the first third, came out of the locker room after the break as a completely different team.

The hosts brought the ball into the penalty area and Joy Pagel (Jr., Maring-Noviand, Germany, Psychology) finally put the Statesmen on the scoreboard when she slotted home a pass from Madison Ellis (So., Vancouver, BC, Business Administration) in the 46:53 minute.

WPU also kept the lead in the second half, but Dordt was able to extend the lead to four goals again with a goal in the 82nd minute, thus ending the scoring of the evening.

The trio consisting of Emma Brandt (So., Cologne, Germany, sports management), Sian Bah (Jr., London, England, political science) and Lina Regadane (So., So., Ijmuiden, Netherlands, business administration) were able to stand up to Pagel with one shot on Thursday.

“Today was a good learning opportunity for our team,” said Preston. “Dordt is a strong and well-organized team and we had to be highly focused from the start, but unfortunately we made a few mistakes at the beginning that put us behind.”

“We responded well after halftime and our energy remained high despite the score,” added Preston. “Overall, I felt the game was hard fought and closer than the score suggested. We still have some things to work out but I expect the group to respond well and progress as the season progresses.”

Up next: William Penn stays in Oskaloosa on Saturday to host William Woods in a non-league game at 1 p.m.