On Sept. 7, the Doane women’s soccer team earned a well-deserved victory of 5-0 against McPherson College. Doane had a strong offensive showing with clear improvements in passing, communication and scoring while also playing cohesive team defense that prevented McPherson from gaining possessions.
Going into the match, the Tigers’ main objective was to maintain possession of the ball while constantly pressuring the opponent’s defense and scoring as many goals as possible.
“Quickly moving the ball from defense to offense was the strategy used to catch the other team off guard,” freshman Doane soccer player Malaz Suliman said.
Even though the temperature was cold, the players were able to adapt to the weather and adjust their strategies. However, the conditions didn’t have a significant impact on their overall performance.
One of the most crucial moments of the game was junior Savannah Franzoy’s hat trick, which gave the team a significant edge. Franzoy’s ability to capitalize on corner kicks turned opportunities into key plays that contributed to the team’s win.
The Tigers delivered an impressive performance overall, showcasing clear improvements in several key areas. One of the most noticeable changes was their enhanced communication on the field, allowing them to anticipate each other’s movements and make more coordinated plays. Additionally, their midfield organization was far more effective, providing stronger control over the game and preventing any critical lapses in concentration that could have given their opponents an edge.
However, despite these advances, the team acknowledges there is always room for growth. According to the players, while the improvements were significant, there are still areas where they could sharpen their skills. They believe that focusing on increasing passing accuracy would make a huge difference, especially in tight situations.
Additionally, maintaining possession under pressure remains a key challenge, and working on handling that stress more efficiently could lead to even better performances in future games.
With these adjustments, the Tigers aim to continue this play on the field. Doane now has a rest week and will resume play the following week on Sept. 18. against Briar Cliff University at home.
