By KEN IRVING
Senior Reporter
Game One
Northwestern Soccer beat Eastern New Mexico 1-0 in an old-fashioned slug fest.
Ranger Soccer opened their season at home on Thursday. Fist year Head Coach Carla Briscoe gave a speech to the Rangers before the game to get them excited and ready to play.
“Ladies we have to play fast and play physical,” Briscoe Said. “This team is not better then you, but you can’t let up. You have to keep applying the pressure on them.”
One year being removed from the playing field, first year Assistant Coach Lilly Anderson also encouraged the girls to play confident.
“Girls, yall have to be confident and take your shots,” Anderson said. “Don’t be hesitant to shoot.”
The Rangers would take their advice and run with it. Two minutes into the match, senior forward Christi-Anne Mills fires a shot at the goal, but it’s blocked by Eastern New Mexico. The Rangers would take nine first half shots on goal.
At the 37 minute mark, Northwestern lined up for a corner kick. Junior midfielder Jenna Mills launched the ball to the middle of the goal. After being kicked around by several defenders from ENMU, the ball squirmed out back towards the corner.
Mills saved the ball and turned her body towards the net and chipped it towards the goal. The ball curved in the air and sliced through the goalies mits into the net to give the Rangers the first goal of the game.
Mills fell to her knees and covered her face in shock. Her teammates surrounded her and celebrated around her. They hugged each other and ran across the field cheering for their teammate.
“If I’m being honest, I was surprised it went in,” Mills said. “I’m glad I did my part for the team to get the win. … In the locker room, Coach Carla talked about we have to set the tone for the season and we have to come out here and build on it. This first win feels amazing. I’m so excited and happy that we came out here and got the dub. We worked really hard and I know it’s hot out but I’m really glad for the girls to get the win today.”
Mills scored the lone goal for the Rangers. In the second half the Rangers shot the ball seven times on the goal, narrowly missing the mark.
The Rangers were stout defensively. ENMU only shot the ball six times and Taylor Annen blocked every shot. Annen played a crucial role in the Rangers shut out win.
“For me this shutout means everything,” Annen said. “As our first game that goes on record to get a shut out and it being my first collegiate shut out is so surreal. It’s a big confidence booster for me and I’m excited to hopefully have many more this season.”
Annen is a sophmore goalie getting her first collegiant action. Her shut out is the first of this season and she will need more if the Rangers want to keep winning.