photo by Matt Nemeth
Freshman midfielder Ciara Dawson carries the ball down the field during a game against La Roche College on Sept. 3. 

The Pioneers persevered despite three previous losses, winning 4-0 against LaRoche College to pick up the first victory of the season and according to senior Angie Abel, some momentum as well.

“I know a lot of the girls needed that [win],” Abel said. “Getting that win also puts in perspective what we learned from the games we lost. We were passing the ball well and things were finally starting to come together.” 

The Pioneers lost their first three games of the regular season to 14th ranked Spring Arbor at Malone University and against Siena Heights.

Head coach Maggie Kuhn was disappointed with the losses, but hopeful that each would serve as both a learning experience and preparation for later portions of the season.

“It obviously isn’t the start that we wanted although we’re playing against teams that, in my three years, are the most high quality,” Kuhn said. “These losses are good in a way because they can…test us for our conference play, but there are worries that it’s going to have undesirable consequences on our confidence.” 

In the home opener loss to Spring Arbor, a game held on Aug. 23, the Pioneers constantly found themselves defending their side of the field and ultimately losing 3-0. 

A week later, Point Park traveled to Malone University and fell 3-2. Freshmen forward Audra Lewis scored both goals for the Pioneers. The team outshot Malone 23-9 and had eight more corner kicks.

Two days later, Point Park fell 3-0 to Siena Heights. Within the first three minutes of the game, the Pioneers were down by two goals. Following the final whistle, Kuhn called for a meeting with the team’s captains. 

Against LaRoche Thursday, the Pioneers earned their first victory of the season 4-0. Goals were scored by Lewis, Erin Gilmartin, Angela Robinet and Robin Tkacz. Point Park outshot LaRoche 36-7 in the game. 

Kuhn set an objective to not allow a goal in the game, and the team accomplished just that. 

“These [are the] kinds of games we should compete very well in,” Kuhn said. “It’s easy to take it easy, but we didn’t. We showed a lot of desire in that game and it was good to see.”

According to Abel, the team’s next goal is to become more than a second half team and play a more consistent 90-minute game. 

Its first opportunity to accomplish this goal was Monday at Mount Vernon Nazarene. The Pioneers will end the week at home Saturday against Concordia University with a noon kick scheduled.