Thursday night at HighMark stadium featured a feisty and chippy battle between the 5-4-2 Pioneers and the 5-3-4 IU Kokomo Cougars. 

Both teams combined for 23 fouls, as it was an intense game. Looking at the box score would simply not tell the story of the result of this game. The Pioneers failed to dominate in the goal column, which resulted in a tough 2-0 loss to the Cougars.

In the first half there were great chances on both sides of the field, but no ball found the back of the net until the last minutes of the first half. At the 40:33 minute mark, Point Park’s Chanell Britten was given a yellow card, and the Cougars used it to their advantage when they scored minutes later. At the 43:58 mark, number 23, Kelsi Hoot, scored the Pioneers’ first goal of the game and third of the year. Scoring that late in the half was the breaking point for Point Park going into the second. 

The Pioneers spent the majority of the second half in the offensive zone trying to tie up the game, but nothing went past Cougar goalie Kailee Moore. The Pioneers out-shot the Cougars by 16 and had five more shots on goal. Unfortunately, games are not won in the stat sheet. The game was out of the Pioneers hands at the 64:42 mark, where Keely Hoopingarner scored her first goal of the year for the Cougars. 

Although the Pioneers continued skirmishing, they couldn’t buy a goal during this game. The chances were there for Point Park to win this game but when the A-plus opportunities came they just could not capitalize. Giving credit for the Cougars is well deserved, as they made the most of their chances in the offensive zone. This ultimately won them the game.

The Pioneers will get a chance at revenge against IU Kokomo in the last game of the season on October 28. That game will also be Senior Day for the Pioneers at home. Emotions will be high for the seniors who have dedicated their hard work and commentated on the game and the school. With that being said, this could serve as a pivotal matchup for conference seeding and a chance at the playoffs for a hungry Pioneer team. 

Point Park currently sits at fourth out of 13 in the River States and 2-1 in conference play. The team is playing low scoring soccer as they are averaging 2.18 goals a game and 1.43 goals against. It is just a matter of time for this offense to get going and make for some exciting Pioneer soccer.