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Women's soccer looks back on season

The Corner Kick

By: Kris Anderson

Posted: 11/15/06

Archrival Fresno State University ended San Jose State University's hopes for a Western Athletic Conference title in women's soccer when the Bulldogs found the back of the Spartan net with eight seconds remaining in double-overtime, assistant coach Craig Winans said.

"It was the cruelest loss I've ever seen," said head coach Dave Siracusa.

Senior co-captain Cristin Murphy said scoring with only seconds left in a double-overtime match is "unheard of."

"We played our hearts out all game," she said. "And to lose like that was very emotional."

Siracusa said there were a lot of tears shed after the game.

"(Senior co-captain Cynthia Pinkney) said if the team wins next year," Siracusa said, "she'll feel like she won too because she's a Spartan forever."

Siracusa said it was one of the saddest moments in sports he had ever been around.

"It looked surreal," he said. "I've played it over in my mind a bunch of times, we just had a bad break. I can't point a finger at anybody."

The loss, Siracusa said, was all the more cruel because of how hard the girls worked all game, and all tournament.

"We were the better team for 109 minutes and 52 seconds," he said. "It was heartbreaking."

Murphy, who donned the Spartan colors for the last time in the match, said it was a very emotional loss.

"You grow up working so hard just to play in college," she said. "It was my dream to play in college."

Winans called the loss heart wrenching, and said it epitomized the agony of defeat.

"We had three players who will never wear blue and gold again," he said. "We look at (them) and knew it was over, but it was over way too soon."

Murphy, who was named a second-team All-WAC selection and to the all-tournament team, said the stage was set for a great soccer game.

"It was pouring rain and there were still fans out," she said. "We played with a lot of heart, and a lot of fight all game."

She said the team possessed the ball well during the match and had opportunities to score.

"The team was upset because we feel we didn't live up to our potential," Murphy said.

But Murphy said she is excited to come out next season and watch a good group of incoming seniors play.

"I want them to win a title," she said. "I feel it, it's coming."

Siracusa said that the loss set the goals for next season.

"That loss was defining," he said. "We wanted to win. I went into (the players living rooms) and said we were going to get it done."

Days after the loss and the season exit meeting, Siracusa and Winans both gave players the option to work out during the offseason.

"Two days after the loss, our strength and condition coach told us that almost the whole team was going to the weight room," Winans said. "They didn't have to be there, and that says a lot about the character of our team."

He said the players coming into the program, and those already in it, have dedicated themselves to winning.

Winans said the freshmen coming off of redshirt years now know what it takes to win.

"This season really made them hungry," he said.

Other players receiving honors at seasons end were junior midfielder Nicole Irwin, whose eight goals and four assists earned her WAC offensive player of the year honors, sophomore forward Jessica Scott, who was selected as a second team all-conference member, and freshman goalkeeper Marissa Dayton, who also earned second team all-conference honors.