2008 Woodie Awards
Are penalty kicks dramatic? Try watching from the stands
By: David Umfleet
Issue date: 11/9/06 Section: Sports
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Webster University's women's soccer team is the winner of this year's Saint Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament. It took 90 minutes of regulation, two overtime periods, 10 penalty kicks and countless near heart attacks to happen. But, it did happen.
I watched the Gorlok faithful exhale cold breath after cold breath at Soccer Park Nov. 4 as they witnessed the Webster Gorloks claim their title - once again as SLIAC Conference champions. The fans' collective breath created a dramatic mist that covered the field and provided a scene fit for the big screen. All right, maybe it wasn't that dramatic, but it was a pretty good game.
Standing in the Gorloks' way were the Principia Panthers. After defeating Westminster 2-0 in the semifinal game, Principia had a head of steam going into the finale. Webster was Principia's only loss during the conference season, but the Panthers put that behind them. At least it looked like they didn't remember the 6-2 shellacking Webster gave them a month ago.
Principia controlled the tempo of the first half with ease by using their speed to neutralize Webster. I listened to the once confident Gorlok fans begin to criticize what appeared to be a lack of effort from the home team. Their frustration turned to anger when Principia scored just before the half. The Gorloks appeared to be in somewhat of a dilemma. They wanted to come out and dictate like they had the first time the two teams faced each other, but Principia simply wouldn't let it happen. Webster Head Coach Luigi Scire said this wasn't the same team Webster faced in October.
"I don't think we came out flat," Scire said. "I think they just forced the issue, and we were just trying to make adjustments in the first half."
With 14 minutes to go in the game, the Panthers retook the lead with a corner kick thatfound its way into the net. The crowd of Gorlok fans grew silent, and then the parents of seniors let out a slow, melancholy groan as they sensed their daughters' careers coming to an end.
I watched the Gorlok faithful exhale cold breath after cold breath at Soccer Park Nov. 4 as they witnessed the Webster Gorloks claim their title - once again as SLIAC Conference champions. The fans' collective breath created a dramatic mist that covered the field and provided a scene fit for the big screen. All right, maybe it wasn't that dramatic, but it was a pretty good game.
Standing in the Gorloks' way were the Principia Panthers. After defeating Westminster 2-0 in the semifinal game, Principia had a head of steam going into the finale. Webster was Principia's only loss during the conference season, but the Panthers put that behind them. At least it looked like they didn't remember the 6-2 shellacking Webster gave them a month ago.
Principia controlled the tempo of the first half with ease by using their speed to neutralize Webster. I listened to the once confident Gorlok fans begin to criticize what appeared to be a lack of effort from the home team. Their frustration turned to anger when Principia scored just before the half. The Gorloks appeared to be in somewhat of a dilemma. They wanted to come out and dictate like they had the first time the two teams faced each other, but Principia simply wouldn't let it happen. Webster Head Coach Luigi Scire said this wasn't the same team Webster faced in October.
"I don't think we came out flat," Scire said. "I think they just forced the issue, and we were just trying to make adjustments in the first half."
With 14 minutes to go in the game, the Panthers retook the lead with a corner kick thatfound its way into the net. The crowd of Gorlok fans grew silent, and then the parents of seniors let out a slow, melancholy groan as they sensed their daughters' careers coming to an end.
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