Kayla Braffet finds herself in the middle of Oakland defenders Erin Ring (left) and Amy Trandell (right) during the Jacks’ scoreless tie on Oct. 14.(Collegian photo by Aaron Stoneberger)

Creating offensive chances wasn’t an issue but the Jacks failed to find the netting.

Finishing scoring chances has been an issue for the SDSU soccer team all season. Last Friday wasn’t any different as the Jacks tied 0-0 with Oakland after two overtime periods.

“We played fairly well for most of the game, it was a little bit of chess match because they were playing with five defenders and really trying to stagnate our attack and for a good portion of the game it worked,” head coach Lang Wedemeyer said.

Even with Oakland using a minimum of five defenders at all times, SDSU had plenty of chances, firing 17 shots. SDSU’s defense had another solid game as they didn’t allow any of Oakland’s five shots to be on goal, making the match relatively easy for senior goalkeeper Kat Donovan.

SDSU’s closest chances to score came when they had two shots bounce off the crossbar. One occurred in the 84th minute when senior Kayla Braffet booted a shot from just outside the box. The ball looked good to put the Jacks ahead but bounced off the crossbar and dropped straight down before being cleared by an Oakland defender. The other near-miss attempt came in the second overtime as sophomore Caylee Costello had her shot attempt hit the crossbar and bounce away harmlessly.

Seniors Kelsey Ferguson and Braffet led the Jacks’ attack with four shots each and Christa Nyblom took three shots, all of which were on goal.

“We created plenty of opportunities to score a few goals, but it was the same story as the rest of the season; a little unlucky or a good goalkeeping save or just missing an opportunity. Oakland is a good team, but we are a bit disappointed with the tie,” Wedemeyer said.

The only yellow card issued was given in the sixth minute to Oakland’s head coach Nick O’Shea after an exchange with the referee.

After winning two games against Wisconsin-Green Bay and North Dakota at home on Sept. 9 and Sept. 11, the SDSU women’s soccer team was hoping to get at least one victory last weekend against Iowa State or Northern Iowa.

Their first opportunity came against ISU, but the Jacks lost 1-0 on a goal in the 52^nd minute.

“I thought that we played good enough to win or tie but we could not finish chances,” head coach Lang Wedemeyer said.

Not finishing on scoring chances has become a common theme for this year’s team. The Jacks shot the ball eleven times against ISU, but only three were on goal and none got past ISU goalkeeper Andrea Swanson. The match was especially upsetting because two of the shots on goal bounced off the goalkeeper’s best friend: the posts.

Things were looking better for the Jacks Sunday afternoon in their match with UNI. SDSU defender Courtney Higgins nailed her first goal of the season in the 21^st minute after assists from Kayla Braffet and Kelsey Ferguson. Braffet also found the back of the net in the 55^th minute to give the Jacks a 2-0 lead.

UNI scored a goal of their own in the 65^th minute, but SDSU appeared to still be in control of the game. Then came an SDSU own-goal, which tied things at 2-2. The own goal came off of a corner kick in the 81^st minute. Neither team could muster a goal through two overtime periods and the game ended in a 2-2 tie.

“Every game’s a little different but this year we played well enough to beat UNI. To their credit they found a way to get back in the game, and then we had that own goal and we ended up tying UNI for a second year in a row” Wedemeyer said.

Braffet had a good weekend, shooting the ball four times against ISU with one shot on goal, and scoring a goal and getting an assist against UNI.

“Kayla is a player who is always dangerous and can make things happen and we try to put her in a position to do so,” Wedemeyer said.

The Jacks now have a week off from competition before a pair of conference matches at Fishback Soccer Park. The Jacks will host Oral Roberts at 6 p.m. on Sept. 30 and Southern Utah on Oct. 2 at 1 p.m.

Close games have become a common theme when the SDSU soccer team plays Wisconsin-Green Bay. Sept. 9 wasn’t any different, as the Jacks defeated UW-GB 1-0 with a goal in the 83rd minute.
Senior Kayla Braffet took the ball down the right side of the field and then cut towards the goal, drawing attention from the UW-GB defense. Braffet passed to sophomore Abby Jurgens who beat the goalkeeper and planted the winning goal in the back of the net.
“Yesterday we were working on one vs. one shots against the goalkeeper, and (coach) Lang (Wedemeyer) was constantly telling me to cut in. I was going to shoot, but I definitely didn’t have the shot, then I saw Abby wide open and she rolled it in,” Braffet said.
The last three meetings between the teams have all ended with the same result: a 1-0 Jackrabbit victory.
Head coach Lang Wedemeyer was impressed with UW-GB and commented on their toughness.
“It’s always a hard fought match against Green Bay,” Wedemeyer said. “It’s always come right down to the end of the game and I’m glad our girls came through.”
The game could have ended much differently however, as senior Kat Donovan made a fantastic sliding save in the 61st minute. Donovan’s save was the only shot on goal for UW-GB, and they only managed seven shots for the whole game.
“We have to give credit to Kat Donovan for making that save that kept us in the game. With the exception of that, they did not have very many dangerous chances,” Wedemeyer said.
The Jacks got off plenty of shots of their own: seventeen in all, but only four were registered as shots on goal. Wedemeyer was pleased with the scoring opportunities his team has been creating.
“I think sometimes we’re kind of our own enemy because we always work it up to the attack, and (the problem) is just finishing and we finally got one today,” Jurgens said.
Braffet figured it was just a matter of time before the offensive attack broke through.
“We got that focus and determination that we needed to actually put a shot in the net,” Braffet said.