2008 Woodie Awards
Hounds offense can't deliver, shut out in Vettori's debut, 4-0
Dave Lomonico
Issue date: 9/2/08 Section: Sports
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Sports Co-editor
New women's soccer coach Katherine Vettori probably envisioned a better start to her Loyola coaching career than a 4-0 loss at the hands of Virginia in Charlottesville on Aug. 22. Then again, beating the No. 6 Wahoos on their home field would have taken a gallant effort from the Greyhounds, not quite on par with Appalachian State over Michigan.
"UVA is a great team," Vettori told Loyola Athletics, "I thought we played very hard. We defended well and were very organized. There were just a couple of breakdowns which we can fix."
There were a few more than a couple breakdowns, but the Hounds are still adjusting to a new system and working out the early-season kinks.
And against a squad like Virginia, who has one of the best defenses in the land, even if Loyola came out like the College Cup was on the line, they probably still would have fallen short.
In fact, they already did fall short in that exact situation -- by almost the same score - less than one year ago. This same Virginia team ended the Greyhounds' season in the first round of the 2007 College Cup by a score of 4-1, leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of the many returning players.
"We knew that Loyola had a good team with a lot of returning players and having played here in the NCAA Tournament last year, that they wouldn't be intimidated by the environment," Virginia coach Steve Swanson told UVA Athletics after this year's game.
But revenge would not be had on this day. Loyola's offense managed just one shot the entire game and none in the first half. New coach, same result for LC.
That being said, the Hounds did play well in stretches, belying that 4-0 final that screamed blowout in the box score. Although the Cavaliers took control early, the Greyhound defense did not succumb until the 37th minute, when Kelly Quinn scored the first of her two goals.
Loyola sophomore keeper Brittany Henderson, last year's MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, survived the early onslaught, recording six of her 10 saves before Quinn broke through.
"Brittany Henderson had a fantastic performance. She came up with some big saves," Vettori said. "Our team defense was really good. Where we are at right now is the most we can ask for at this point in the season."
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