Women's Soccer Weekend Recap | September 18, 2017

While the results on the weekend weren't as the team would have wanted, Rustlers women's soccer head coach Kevin Wagner has still seen growth in his team. 

"It's tough," Wagner said of his team's lack of points and success on the scoreboard this year.  "We have had a huge amount of growth in three weeks, but the girls don't see it.  I am focusing really hard on them and focusing on the positives.  We have to stay with our pillars, community, classroom, and field.  We are improving on the field, have to maintain things in the classroom and get them going in the community."

Saturday, the Rustlers dropped their home opener 6-0 to the SAIT Trojans.  The physical play of SAIT resulted in frequent scoring opportunities for the Trojans, who found the back of the net three times each half.  For the Rustlers, player of the game was Danielle Lapointe. 

Sunday's matchup between the Rustlers and the Olds College Broncos featured two teams looking for their first win of the season. The play was back and forth in the first half with both teams having chances to score. Ultimately, neither team could capitalize on their chances, as the score was tied at zero at the half.

In the second half, Olds took a 1-0 in the 46th minute on a Lakeland misplay resulting in the Rustlers scoring on their own goal. Later in the second half, the Rustlers gave up another goal, losing the game 2-0.  Wagner said, "the girls bounced back nicely after losing 6-0 yesterday."  Player of the Game for the Rustlers was Center Back Rachel Fogh.

Fogh echoed Wagner's comments about the growth seen in the team.  "We are a very new team," Fogh said.  "We have to learn off each other, where people tend to go, their tendencies, how they play, things like that, so we are trying to come together as one.  From the first game to now there are so many differences; people know where to go and when to move, and our goalkeeper is getting more confident, so it is coming."

Next, the Rustlers are headed to Red Deer for a matchup with the 0-1-3 Queens on September 23rd.  The Rustlers next home games are on October 14th and 15th when they will host the Lethbridge Kodiaks and Medicine Hat Rattlers.