Searching for goals

After the final whistle blew on the Vikings (1-9-2) 1-0 loss to Fresno State (4-7-1) on Sunday, the feeling on the home sidelines was one of lost opportunity.

Braving the soggy weather at the Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation Center, the Vikings struggled to get their offense rolling and sustain any kind of momentum during the 90-minute match.

Chief among those struggles, Portland State failed to convert on many golden chances to score the ball, several of which came in the closing minutes of the game.

“We had plenty of shots at it,” said head coach Laura Schott after the disappointing loss. “We just continue to have trouble putting the ball in the back of the net.”

The Vikings had been out of action since falling to the University of Oregon 3-0 on Sept. 19, but the extra practice time the squad had this week did not seem to help their offense.

Despite keeping the ball deep in Bulldog territory for most of the last two minutes of the game, the Vikings could not seem to get a clear shot on the goal, and ended the day with 11 fruitless shots, five of which were on the goal.

The lone score of the game came in the 51st minute, when Fresno State senior forward Nicole Gutierrez found the back of the net after an assist from Bulldog senior midfielder Ali Sill.

The following minutes of action showed a PSU team with the wind taken out of their sails, and senior goalie Kris Lewis called an impromptu huddle during an injury stoppage to attempt to get her team back on track.

Unfortunately, the offensive woes continued for the Vikings until the end, with stunted attacks and squandered possessions marring their chances of evening the score.

Freshman midfielder Kala Renard had four shots for the Vikings in her first start of the season.

“The women played well at times, combining for some beautiful moments,” Schott said. “But we have trouble putting together a full game of good soccer.”

After finding the win column on the road against Nevada on Sept. 7, the Vikings have struggled going 0-4-2 and being outscored during that stretch, 12-4.

“We’re making a lot of young mistakes. I’m confident we can get past that, but we really need to do it right now,” Schott said.

The team was hoping for a solid game against the Bulldogs as they prepare to begin Big Sky Conference play on Oct. 10 at Northern Colorado.

Prior to the start of the season, the Vikings were projected to finish fifth overall in the conference, and thus far, it’s hard to argue that this team will buck those expectations.

But following the loss, Schott and her players remain confident that they can elevate their play for the final stretch of their season. After all, Schott knows the key to success is simple.

“It all depends on our ability to put the ball in the goal.”