There was one great half of soccer played at Wescott Field Tuesday.

Wednesday, October 13, 1999

There was one great half of soccer played at Wescott Field Tuesday. Too bad Austin trailed 1-0 after it. That half was the first in the game between the Packers and John Marshall. An early second-half goal by the Rockets drained the energy from the Packers and they went on to lose 4-0.

The first half was a wide open affair with the ball moved up and down the field by both teams. Each side had numerous scoring opportunities. The first came right at the get-go for Austin. Jamie Nieland broke in on goal 30 seconds into the game. She tried to put the ball into the short side of the goal. She was thwarted by freshman goal keeper Nicole Viet.

Austin was getting the best chances in the first five minutes, but over the next 15 it was Austin goal keeper Kellie Peterson who had to make the big stops. Peterson made one big save 17 minutes in to the contest. A hard shot was sent her way. She tipped the ball up with her hands and then made the catch. She wasn’t so lucky moments later. A Rockets cross went right to the foot of Christine Dosch in the box. Dosch volleyed the ball past Peterson who had no chance to make the save.

Austin put the ball in the net a couple of minutes later, but it didn’t count because they were offside.

Over the last 10 minutes of the half, it was Austin controlling play and looking to get the game back to even. Nieland had a couple of good chances as did Megan Seibel. Seibel came in free down the left flank, but her left-footed shot was easily gathered in by Viet. In the last minute of play, Katy McClain had a golden opportunity. She drove one home from 12 yards out, but again Viet made the save. For the game, Austin got 15 shots off the majority in the first half. John Marshall had a total of 21.

"We made some defensive adjustments in the second half to contain Austin’s fast forwards," John Marshall coach John Endicott said. "We got a little more depth in our four-flat zone defense where the defender who drops back depends on where the attack comes from."

Four minutes into the second half the visitors made it 2-0. Amber Thompson made an almost identical run as Seibel did in the first half. She made a well placed shot with the outside portion of her right foot for the goal.

"We lost confidence after that goal," Austin coach David Ingalls said. "We also had trouble adjusting our defense. They sent lot of people forward throughout the second half."

John Marshall (11-5-1, 9-3) is in second place in the Big Nine behind Century with one game remaining against Winona. Austin’s (8-5-2, 7-5-1) last game of the regular season is against Mayo. It takes place Thursday. It will be the final home game for seniors, Nieland, Caryn Sisson, Rachel Burzinski and Kasha Kluczny.