A lot has happened since the last time I wrote to you all. School has started, and I apologize for not updating you all sooner. Don’t worry though, your Lady Panthers have been continuing with their winning season! Since we have last talked, we have gone on two road trips, both ending in winning results. The first trip sent us down to Macomb, Ill., to take on the Western Illinois. Due to the rainy weather, we had to play inside on turf, but that didn’t affect your Panthers from getting a winning result. A 3-1 win raised our spirits even more as we headed to Iowa to take on the Cyclones of Iowa State! One of our tougher opponents this season, we came in with lots of energy for a close game. The game was tight until the very end. Not until the 72nd minute did we score the first goal and soon Iowa State came back leading 2-1 until the 89th minute when McKaela scored to send us to overtime! The drama only started in OT when Iowa State missed a PK, and finally Jelena scored the game winner from Haley Johnson in the 98th minute!
After the exciting weekend, we headed back to Milwaukee for another week of practice in preparation for our first Horizon League conference game. After only 4 days back at home, we hit the road again to Youngstown, Ohio to take on the Penguins. After what felt like 16-hour bus ride, we finally arrived with only one thing on our minds, WIN!
We took a while to get going at the start of the game, but after a substitution and boost of team energy, Schill found the back of the net in the first half that would be the only goal score the whole game. With a record of 1-0 leading into conference and continuing our unbeaten streak, we headed back home with our next focus on cross-town rival Marquette!
Monday came along, and the team was buzzing all day with excitement for the big game. After the pounds of bug spray were applied (sorry Olivia for using it all), we took the field ready for what some say our most intense game of the season. First half ended 0-0, and we were ready to attack and score goals once the second half started. After an onslaught of shots and attack from us, Marquette was able to find their goal off a free kick with 17 minutes left in the game. Quickly, we shook our heads and started attacking again and again. We weren’t able to take advantage in the final minutes ending our unbeaten streak and leaving us with the first loss of the season.
As defeat sat with us for the first time in 27 games, we used it as a tool for inspiration and motivation to continue with nothing but success for the season. We bottled the angry, frustration, and heartache from the loss, and used our new energized, focused mindsets to ready us for our next conference game ahead.
Saturday night back under the lights of Englemann Stadium, a new refreshed Lanther team came out buzzing against the Flames of UIC. It only took 1 minute and 18 seconds for to score the first goal! The scoring didn’t stop there, and we found the net twice more to end the first half to end the first 3-1. To no surprise, the second half started as the first, we found the net for the last time in the 47th minute leading us to a 4-1 victory and a 2-0 record to start of the conference season.
Ending the week on a high note, your Lady Panthers look forward this week to two more conference match ups. Wednesday night we are heading up north to face Green Bay (hopefully we end in a better result than the Packers this week), and then we host Wright State on Saturday at 2 pm before the men’s team takes on Green Bay!
I can’t wait to see you all come out to support your Lanthers this weekend, and as always come back for another shot … with Petrone!
