Let this sink in: The Master's University women's soccer team hasn't allowed a goal in its last 290 minutes of soccer. That's more than four and a half hours, and Saturday it was the key to a 0-0 tie with UC Merced in double overtime.
The Mustang defense was organized throughout, limiting the Bobcats to few dangerous opportunities.
"We've really been focusing in practice on doing extra headers to clear the ball, focusing on one-time clearances," said senior defender
Kayla Peterson. "We've been doing a lot of work to get back to last year when we had 10 shutouts. We're at three right now, and I think if we continue the rest of the season we'll be at 10 or 11, which is kind of the goal, to keep the momentum going and keep the ball out of the net." Â
The Mustangs – who shutout Providence Christian 7-0 on Sept. 9 and the University of Antelope Valley 2-0 on Sept. 13 – limited the Bobcats to four shots, one on goal. The Mustangs, despite 12 shots, six on frame, failed to score for just the second time this season. On maybe its best opportunity,
Kayla Sims hit the cross bar as part of a strong Mustang push in the first overtime, a period in which Master's was constantly on the attack.
"I think our execution in the final third was lacking today," said TMU head coach
Curtis Lewis. "I think first half we really didn't play well again. I think second half we figured some stuff out, and in the first overtime we really started to push."
Now, the Mustangs will turn their attention to Golden State Athletic Conference play. Master's opens at Vanguard University on Oct. 3.
"I'm pumped to start GSAC," Peterson said. "I'm so excited for senior year and to go after it as a team. I think Vanguard being our opening game is going to push us and test us to see if we're ready for GSAC. They're a great team. They're really highly ranked, and I think if we do really well it's going to show well for us and we're going to have a great season after it."
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