By William Staten The Jambar
After two losses on the road, the Youngstown State University women’s soccer team returned home to Farmers National Bank Field for a two-game homestead against Horizon League opponents Northern Illinois University and Indiana University Indianapolis on Oct. 22 and Oct. 25, respectively.
The Penguins’ Horizon League record was 3-2-3 going into the games, which ranked them in the middle of the conference.
Against the Huskies, the ’Guins started slow in the first 30 minutes, with all three of their offside penalties committed during that time. Neither team recorded another offside penalty during the game.
Also in the first 30 minutes, Northern Illinois made nine shots, one being a shot on goal which was saved by Youngstown State junior Kendall Sears. Fifth-year senior Elena Zuchowski accounted for the ’Guins only two shots in that span.
Zuchowski transferred to Youngstown State from the University of Missouri after missing her senior season due to injury. The midfielder earned Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll honors twice while at Missouri, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree.
The Penguins’ cold streak ended shortly after with three shots on goal in three minutes. All three were saved by Northern Illinois. Both teams made several substitutions in an attempt to energize the offense by the end of the first half, but to no avail.
In the second period, senior Sara Felder put the Penguins on the scoreboard with a goal assisted by junior Leah Weiland.
Both Felder and Weiland missed their freshman seasons due to injuries, and both have appeared in nearly every game for Youngstown State in their respective careers. Both players have since been elevated to full-time starters for the team.
In the 10 minutes that followed, Sears saved two more shots on goal made by the Huskies. Youngstown State sophomore Ghita Haouzi attempted two shots, and junior Kate Makkas was dealt a yellow card by the officials.
At the 67-minute mark, Northern Illinois scored a goal to tie the game. Sophomore Kamryn Rosa made the last shot-on-goal attempt in the game at the 76-minute mark, which was also saved by the Huskies. The game ended in a 1-1 tie.
The Penguins started out slow again on Oct. 25, being outshot by the Jaguars 8-4 in the first 30 minutes. At the 30:28 mark, Felder scored her fifth goal of the season assisted by Rosa. Four minutes later, the Jaguars struck back with a goal of their own to tie the game 1-1.
Two shots wide to left by Haouzi and Felder ended the first half for Youngstown State. In the second period, Zuchowski assisted Makkas in turning up the heat with a second goal three minutes in — Makkas’ second goal and Zuchowski’s third assist.
After being outshot 9-7 in the first half, the Penguins flipped the script on IU Indy and made eight shots in the second half to the Jaguars’ four. IU Indy’s sophomore goalkeeper Isabel Oferosky made five saves in the second half alone.
Freshman Cami Givens made two saves in the second half to hold the Jaguars to one goal, and sealed the 2-1 win for the ’Guins.
With the win, the penguins clinched a spot in the Horizon League women’s soccer tournament with one regular season game remaining against Robert Morris University on Oct. 31. Final seeding is yet to be determined for the tournament. For more information, visit horizonleague.org.