By: Becky Roa (March 25, 2004)

Since the Mustangs’ opener weeks ago, they seemed to have hit a bump, tying AA Dominion 1-1 and losing to AA Heritage 7-0 and most recently losing to AA Broad Run, 8-0 Tuesday night. 

"We lacked all the simple things," said coach Clifford Carroll. Since the first game and for some even longer, the Mustangs have lacked players due to various leg injuries to senior Becky Roa, junior Sam Wolfe, sophomore Katie Gordon, sophomore Maggie Person, freshman Kaitlin Freeman and have limited access to seniors Amanda Harrington, Alison Penland and Maria Wood for various injuries as well. Because of the injuries, freshmen Sarah Greenberg, Nataly InterDimaggio, Roxy Sweeney and Katie Turner have had to step up and adapt quickly. "We are asking them to fill major positions and they are responding, but they are too young to fully understand the game at this level this soon," said Coach Bob Penland. Regardless of the score of Tuesday’s game, sophomore Alex Pender had several saves that could have easily been more points for Broad Run.

Last Friday, arguably the coldest and windiest night of the year, the Mustangs lost to AA Heritage in a 7-0 rout. Much like Tuesday’s loss, the Mustangs relied on the few returning starters that were not injured and freshmen to gel quickly into a competitive team. Penland, junior Rachel Sweeney, junior Christina Kirkbride and Wood, the Mustangs tallied their second loss to its’ pre-season record.

In a lop-sided game not in favor of the Mustangs, the Stangs’ came away with a 1-1 tie against AA Dominion the night before the loss to AA Heritage. The first half looked promising for the Mustangs when within the first 15 minutes Turner crossed a ball into Rachel Sweeney for a one-on-one opportunity with the Dominion goalie. Although Sweeney’s shot chipped the post, Penland was trailing behind to put it into the back of the net. Going into the second half up by one, the Mustangs quickly turned stale and "over 80% of the time the ball was in our half," said coach Penland. A Dominion forward connected within that time to tie up the game. With ample time to tally another goal by either team, the Mustangs fell into a bit of luck that the match ended in a tie despite several shots from the Dominion offense. "We just aren’t communicating and the scores make that obvious, in the last two games we’ve lost by a combined 15 goals," said Penland.