Women’s record-breaking victory streak ends at home

Women’s soccer fails to top Carlow in battle for Highmark Stadium

Freshman+forward+Morgan+French+takes+a+shot+on+net+during+a+match+against+Ohio+Christian+University.+Last+weekend%2C+the+Pioneers+fell+to+Carlow+4-1+snapping+an+eight+game+win+streak.+They+will+resume+conference+play+Thursday+at+home+against+Midway+University.+

Photo by Robert Berger

Freshman forward Morgan French takes a shot on net during a match against Ohio Christian University. Last weekend, the Pioneers fell to Carlow 4-1 snapping an eight game win streak. They will resume conference play Thursday at home against Midway University.

Written By Rachel McKriger, For The Globe

The winning streak is over for the Point Park women’s soccer team.

In the battle for Highmark Stadium, Point Park fell to Carlow University, 4-1. The two schools, both located in Pittsburgh, share Highmark Stadium for their home matches. However, according to Pioneers head coach Maggie Kuhn, Carlow does not use the field to practice like Point Park does.

On Carlow’s senior night, the Pioneers could not extend their eight-game win streak.

Only nine minutes into the match, freshman midfielder Britney Adrian put in her own rebound, giving the Pioneers a head start. Carlow equalized in the first half, right before halftime, off a goal from Alexa Schwab.

Three second-half goals gave Carlow the victory over Point Park.

Senior defender Abby Magilocca said that with the eight victories, Point Park lost sight of how Carlow is a strong contender.

“I think we took them too lightly,” Magilocca said. “One of the big things we’re taking from that game is picking up the intensity, especially overall intensity. We need to step up the heart and desire. Carlow always just raises themselves every time they play us because of the rivalry. I don’t think we raised yourself to the same intensity or desire to win.”

On Saturday, the Pioneers went into a match against Malone University. In the non-conference tilt, Point Park fell 1-0.

According to Magilocca, there were plenty of positives in the match, including the team’s attitude after the loss to Carlow.

“We picked it up a little,” Magilocca said. “We went into the game against Malone seeing how we would adjust. We didn’t want to plan too much; we thought that was one of the problems against Carlow. We went in with an overall plan, but we wanted to adjust things on the fly. We did well with that.”

Malone’s lone goal came from Danielle Lung in the 63rd minute.

Looking back on the week and the goals scored against Point Park, three came off of rebounds, while one was a shot from distance. In the Carlow match, Carlow’s fourth goal came off a penalty kick from Kristina Wallace.

With that said, Point Park is not giving up goals on set pieces, a key component that both Kuhn and junior midfielder Gabby Widman alluded to last week.

“We are creating an awful lot of corner kicks, versus our opponents,” Kuhn said. “We can’t waste those opportunities, so we do train them. We need to be more consistent in that area of the field.”

Kuhn went on to say that playing against Malone was another opportunity for Point Park to get in some quality non-conference opponents before the post-season.

Widman said that, in regards to set pieces, the team is doing a “really good job” attacking the goal.

“We’ve found our success with just the willingness to go in and compete,” Widman said.

Point Park has another two-game week ahead, with two conference games at Highmark Stadium. On Thursday, the Pioneers will face Midway University. Then, on Saturday, the Pioneers will face Asbury University on senior day.

Magilocca, one of eight seniors being recognized, said that she knows the day will be emotional.

“I’ve seen the senior day for the three years that I’ve been here,” Magilocca said. “It’s always fun to watch, but now it’ll be exciting to play. It’ll be emotional in a good way. It’s just exciting.”

As for the team’s approach to both games, Magilocca said the team isn’t making any over-the-top changes.

“We just need to work harder,” Magilocca said. “That’s the only change we’ll be making into these upcoming games. Coach Kuhn said, based on the games in the past, just how we needed to be humble after the wins and keep our heads high after the loss. We lost one battle, but we have the whole war ahead. We need to keep advancing because one loss doesn’t knock us out of the playoffs.”