Freshman Micaela Capelle leads the way as women’s soccer remains perfect
By Kyle Cape-Lindelin, Staff Writer -- capelind13@up.edu
Sitting at 6-0 would be a dream for many teams starting out their season, but the UP women's soccer team is trying to figure out how to jump start its offense earlier in games.
The solution: get the ball to freshman Micaela Capelle as early as possible.
Capelle is the Pilots' leading goal scorer this season with four. Three of her scored goals were UP's first goals of the game and would ultimately prove to be game winners.
"Her speed and quickness just adds another weapon to our squad, and she's also the one who has been getting us going despite her lack of college game experience," Head Coach Garrett Smith said of the freshman scorer.
The Pilots traveled to Seattle for the Husky Invitational over the weekend, beating Wisconsin 2-0 and Syracuse 3-1.
"We're really glad to pick up two wins against quality, out-of-conference teams. It makes the fact that we're 6-0 that much better and proves nationwide that they were earned," Smith said.
Matched up against Wisconsin on Fri. Sept. 4, the Pilots struggled to find the goal in the first half.
This has been the case for four out of five games this season according to the Portland Pilots team website.
Youth, inexperience and more prepared opponents are the biggest reasons for the Pilots' struggles.
These offensive challenges in the first half are new for the Pilots since they didn't score in the first period only three times all last season.
Capelle has a more optimistic view of the offense's first half performances.
"It seems like we're starting slow, but really we're kind of feeling the game out, seeing what can work and what won't. When the momentum finally comes we're right there to grab it," Capelle said after the Wisconsin game.
Portland's defense kept Wisconsin in check throughout the game. The team played relentlessly, attacking all game long and keeping Wisconsin scoreless.
Wisconsin has yet to score a goal this season after being held scoreless in their previous two games.
Wisconsin fired off five shots with UP freshman goalkeeper Erin Dees grabbing two saves. This was Dees' fourth shutout in the six games of her first year.
The offense started rolling when Capelle touched in a header from junior Michelle Oliver two minutes into the second half to take the lead. Junior Taylor Brooke, assisted by senior Elli Reed, headed in another goal to seal the win in the 52nd minute.
"(Brooke) got to play a lot this spring after having to sit most of last year, but she improved like expected and now she's a very important asset to our offense," Smith said of Brooke's performance so far this season.
The Syracuse Orange became the first team to score first and take the lead against UP this season in the 22nd minute off a free kick. Unfortunately for Syracuse, it was also one of only two shots taken in the first half and only four total for the game compared to UP's 19 shots.
The Pilots quickly responded to the deficit. Senior Sophie Schmidt scored a close-range goal from junior Danielle Foxhoven's precision assist in the open field to tie the game in the 29th minute.
"We just stick to the game plan. As upperclassmen, we know what works so we just have to wait it out till it bounces our way," Schmidt said following the victory.
Starting the second half, Brooke broke the tie touching in an eventual game winner in the corner from senior Elli Reed in the 56th minute. Brooke is the second leading goal scorer with three goals this season. Reed earned her third assist of the season.
Capelle finished off the Orange with a decisive score in the 69th minute beating out Syracuse's freshman goalkeeper in a one-on-one situation to seal the win.
Despite the travel and the tough schedule of opponents, Smith is unfazed and looking forward to the Nike Invitational in Portland.
"This start will show where we are and get us prepared for the postseason. We've got to clean up our games a little bit but we don't expect anything easy," Smith said.
The tournament starts Fri., Sept. 10 at 4:30 p.m. with Washington facing Penn State. The Pilots play next against Rutgers at 7 p.m. and then face Penn State at 2:30 p.m. on Sun., Sept. 12.
