Last weekend, Sept. 13-15, the Rockhurst University soccer teams battled through their challenging home opener matches, the women finishing 1-1 and the men going 0-1.
On Friday night, the women launched their weekend with a strong start against their non-conference opponent, the University of Sioux Falls Cougars. Junior forward Anna Lantz set the tone for the match with a well-placed free kick in the seventh minute, giving the Hawks an early 1-0 lead. Despite outshooting the Cougars 17-0 in the first half, Rockhurst carried their one-goal lead into the second.
The Hawks did not let up as senior forward Ellie Kimbell tallied a precise finish inside the box in the sixty-eighth minute and junior midfielder Lizzo Rosenthal cemented the win with a deep header off a corner kick from senior midfielder Gabby Hennessy in the eighty-fifth. Rockhurst secured a dominant 3-0 victory, outshooting the Cougars 29-3.
Even with Friday’s momentum on their back, Sunday brought a tougher challenge for the women as they kicked off GLVC conference play against the nationally-ranked McKendree University Bearcats. Adding to the tension of the match, McKendree ended the Hawks’ season in the first round of the conference tournament last season and went on to win the GLVC Championship.
The women had a commanding start out of the gate, controlling the majority of play for the first fifteen minutes, but could not capitalize on their opportunities. A handball in the box from the Hawks in the nineteenth minute led to a penalty kick for the Bearcats, which they successfully converted, grabbing an early 1-0 lead. Taking advantage of Rockhurst’s decline in energy, McKendree quickly put two more in the back of the net in the next seven minutes, bringing the score to 3-0 before halftime.
Rockhurst regrouped during the break, their second-half performance showing increased energy and fight. Lantz buried one in the upper right corner from just outside the box to put the Hawks on the scoreboard in the first two minutes of the half. Hennessy followed up with a free kick 30 yards out, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
Despite continued pressure and outshooting the Bearcats 12-2 in the second, Rockhurst could not find the equalizer, and the game ended in a loss.
Following the women’s match on Sunday, the Rockhurst men’s team took the field for their first GLVC conference game, also against McKendree. A goalkeeper error from Rockhurst led to an own goal in the twelfth minute, giving the Bearcats a 1-0 lead. Like the women, the men could not bounce back after their mistake, and McKendree capitalized, netting a second goal just seven minutes later.
Going into the second half down two goals, the Hawks showed a promising start. Sophomore Sam McIntosh took control in the midfield, making a long run before setting up senior Cris LiCavoli in the fifty-forth minute. He finished his shot in the top net, decreasing the Bearcat lead to 2-1.
The Hawks’ momentum was quickly halted two minutes later when junior Kaden Cripe received a red card, sending him off the field and leaving Rockhurst with just 10 men and over 30 minutes to play. With the numerical player advantage, Mckendree took control of the game. They added three more goals, sealing a 5-1 victory.
Both teams looked to turn their seasons around Friday, Sept. 20 conference matches in St. Louis against Maryville University, but fell. The men lost 4-2 and the women 4-0. The teams return to play at home today, Sunday, Sept. 22, on Bourke Field against the University of Missouri – St. Louis Tritons, the women at noon and the men at 2:30 p.m.
