Rockets lose to Illinois 4-1. UT's only goal from WMU-grad-transfer Ottenson. Large backslide from last year where they played UI at home and lost 1-0.

Yeesh this is not good. Illinois played Illinois State their 1st game and won that only 1-0. UT beat Illinois State last year, and today Illinois State lost to EMU 4-0. Buchholtz takes pride in UT being a solid defensive team first, so giving up 4 goals would appear to be very poor at first blush, especially if ISU only gave up 1 to the same team.

Home opener today at 7 against PFW. Live stream on ESPN+

1-1 Final.

UT is now 0-1-2

Hard to be optimistic about the season at this point, as UT was clearly the much, much, much better team and somehow still could not come away with a win. UT led in shots 20-4 and SOG 11-2, but UT's only goal came on a penalty in the 1st half. UT hit a post, had another shot saved by a defender, had several shanked and mishit shots and despite all that, looked to be able to come away with a win as with about 3 seconds left in the game they had what looked like an easy goal into a mostly open net. But no, the shot clanked it off the crossbar. Meanwhile PFW had like barely 1 halfway-decent chance the whole game, but made it count on a shot from distance off the underside of the crossbar.

I will say one thing, the WMU grad transfer, Otteson, looks like the most skilled player UT has had in a very, very long time. She dazzled many of the PFW defenders, and had 6 shots including the one off the post and the one that had to be saved by a defender. Also, the freshman Amachree, who picked UT over Indiana U, looks like she will be very good once she finds he footing in the college game. She drew the penalty that resulted in UT's lone goal. But TJ's recent teams just seem to have trouble finishing, make too many poor decisions and give up weak goals too often.

UT may end up leading the league in yellow cards this year, as they already have 7 in 3 games.

Now, UT was playing without their starting keeper and a starting center back today so, hopefully they are back before long. Next match is Sunday @ Indiana State.

(08-25-2022 08:23 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  1-1 Final.

UT is now 0-1-2

Hard to be optimistic about the season at this point, as UT was clearly the much, much, much better team and somehow still could not come away with a win. UT led in shots 20-4 and SOG 11-2, but UT's only goal came on a penalty in the 1st half. UT hit a post, had another shot saved by a defender, had several shanked and mishit shots and despite all that, looked to be able to come away with a win as with about 3 seconds left in the game they had what looked like an easy goal into a mostly open net. But no, the shot clanked it off the crossbar. Meanwhile PFW had like barely 1 halfway-decent chance the whole game, but made it count on a shot from distance off the underside of the crossbar.

I will say one thing, the WMU grad transfer, Otteson, looks like the most skilled player UT has had in a very, very long time. She dazzled many of the PFW defenders, and had 6 shots including the one off the post and the one that had to be saved by a defender. Also, the freshman Amachree, who picked UT over Indiana U, looks like she will be very good once she finds he footing in the college game. She drew the penalty that resulted in UT's lone goal. But TJ's recent teams just seem to have trouble finishing, make too many poor decisions and give up weak goals too often.

UT may end up leading the league in yellow cards this year, as they already have 7 in 3 games.

Now, UT was playing without their starting keeper and a starting center back today so, hopefully they are back before long. Next match is Sunday @ Indiana State.

Frustrating game, yes, but you're quite the pessimist about this team, northcoast. We get outplayed on the road by a highly touted Dayton team but end up with a good result, and you see that as a bad sign. Then we thoroughly outplay Purdue Fort Wayne but end up with a bad result, and you see that as a bad sign as well.

(08-26-2022 06:06 AM)Lester Wrote:  

(08-25-2022 08:23 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  1-1 Final.

UT is now 0-1-2

Hard to be optimistic about the season at this point, as UT was clearly the much, much, much better team and somehow still could not come away with a win. UT led in shots 20-4 and SOG 11-2, but UT's only goal came on a penalty in the 1st half. UT hit a post, had another shot saved by a defender, had several shanked and mishit shots and despite all that, looked to be able to come away with a win as with about 3 seconds left in the game they had what looked like an easy goal into a mostly open net. But no, the shot clanked it off the crossbar. Meanwhile PFW had like barely 1 halfway-decent chance the whole game, but made it count on a shot from distance off the underside of the crossbar.

I will say one thing, the WMU grad transfer, Otteson, looks like the most skilled player UT has had in a very, very long time. She dazzled many of the PFW defenders, and had 6 shots including the one off the post and the one that had to be saved by a defender. Also, the freshman Amachree, who picked UT over Indiana U, looks like she will be very good once she finds he footing in the college game. She drew the penalty that resulted in UT's lone goal. But TJ's recent teams just seem to have trouble finishing, make too many poor decisions and give up weak goals too often.

UT may end up leading the league in yellow cards this year, as they already have 7 in 3 games.

Now, UT was playing without their starting keeper and a starting center back today so, hopefully they are back before long. Next match is Sunday @ Indiana State.

Frustrating game, yes, but you're quite the pessimist about this team, northcoast. We get outplayed on the road by a highly touted Dayton team but end up with a good result, and you see that as a bad sign. Then we thoroughly outplay Purdue Fort Wayne but end up with a bad result, and you see that as a bad sign as well.

Yeah, just frustrated I guess, as not being able to finish consistently has been a common theme in recent years, no matter who they have on the field up front.

I do see that Illinois beat ranked Butler this week, so that loss doesn't look as bad now. It is early in the season, so hopefully things go better once MAC play starts.

Rockets get their 1st win of the season, 3-0 on the road at Indiana State.

Pretty lackluster defensive struggle for the 1st 60 minutes, til UT drew a PK. The ISU keeper saved the penalty, but Otteson banged home the rebound for the lead. After that, ISU came out of their defensive shell and UT had numerous chances, scoring twice - once on a shot from distance by Ashton Cassel, and Ottenson got her 2nd, after corralling a nice cross from Currie.

Next match an unusual weekday day game, as UT hosts Oakland on Thursday at noon.

UT seemed to pretty much control the entire game

Otteson named offensive player of the week.

The soccer team was outplayed and lost at home 4-1 to Oakland. The Rockets' starting goalie, Emma Boutorwick, and center midfielder, McKenna Schultz, were injured last in the first half, with the score 2-0. The goalie's non-contact knee injury looked like a season ender. Schultz's injury was either a knee or a shin.

(09-02-2022 05:36 AM)Lester Wrote:  The soccer team was outplayed and lost at home 4-1 to Oakland. The Rockets' starting goalie, Emma Boutorwick, and center midfielder, McKenna Schultz, were injured last in the first half, with the score 2-0. The goalie's non-contact knee injury looked like a season ender. Schultz's injury was either a knee or a shin.

Oakland has a decent team this year and already played 2 MAC schools. They beat EMU 2-0 and tied Akron. But then again, Akron and EMU were both predicted to finish near the bottom of the MAC, so that's not a good sign for UT to let them score 4.

Soccer hosts Michigan today at 1. Stream on ESPN+

Rockets lose 7-2.

Despite the gaudy number, it actually wasn't that bad. First off, UM has held 2 top 20 teams to only 1 goal, and they beat CMU 7-0. Second, UT is without their starting keeper and their 2 starting center backs. Their only other center back played, but was reported to be not 100%, so a lot of players were playing out of position.

UT tied the game early in the 2nd and looked to be holding their own til the UT keeper made a really dumb play and essentially handed a goal to UM. That deflated them a bit, but more importantly, they just ran out of legs, and UM scored 5 goals in about the last 25 minuted. UT got 1 back, and also had a PK that they didn't capitalize on, so overall I think UT played better than expected, although with all their injuries, that puts a damper on any ability to turn things around in MAC play. UM also had 3 yellow cards and a red (not the result of 2 yellows) so they took a lot from UM. The red came too late to really make a difference though, as UT's legs were already spent by then.

(09-11-2022 04:31 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  Rockets lose 7-2.

Despite the gaudy number, it actually wasn't that bad. First off, UM has held 2 top 20 teams to only 1 goal, and they beat CMU 7-0. Second, UT is without their starting keeper and their 2 starting center backs. Their only other center back played, but was reported to be not 100%, so a lot of players were playing out of position.

UT tied the game early in the 2nd and looked to be holding their own til the UT keeper made a really dumb play and essentially handed a goal to UM. That deflated them a bit, but more importantly, they just ran out of legs, and UM scored 5 goals in about the last 25 minuted. UT got 1 back, and also had a PK that they didn't capitalize on, so overall I think UT played better than expected, although with all their injuries, that puts a damper on any ability to turn things around in MAC play. UM also had 3 yellow cards and a red (not the result of 2 yellows) so they took a lot from UM. The red came too late to really make a difference though, as UT's legs were already spent by then.

What's wrong with the keeper?

(09-11-2022 05:21 PM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  

(09-11-2022 04:31 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  Rockets lose 7-2.

Despite the gaudy number, it actually wasn't that bad. First off, UM has held 2 top 20 teams to only 1 goal, and they beat CMU 7-0. Second, UT is without their starting keeper and their 2 starting center backs. Their only other center back played, but was reported to be not 100%, so a lot of players were playing out of position.

UT tied the game early in the 2nd and looked to be holding their own til the UT keeper made a really dumb play and essentially handed a goal to UM. That deflated them a bit, but more importantly, they just ran out of legs, and UM scored 5 goals in about the last 25 minuted. UT got 1 back, and also had a PK that they didn't capitalize on, so overall I think UT played better than expected, although with all their injuries, that puts a damper on any ability to turn things around in MAC play. UM also had 3 yellow cards and a red (not the result of 2 yellows) so they took a lot from UM. The red came too late to really make a difference though, as UT's legs were already spent by then.

What's wrong with the keeper?

Don't know, they might have said at the start of the match, but I tied in late. She missed some time earlier in the year, and then came back and now is out again.

Soccer opened MAC play @ BGSU and somehow UT came away with a 2-2 tie.

BG more skilled, way more speed and more organized. Live stats non-existent, so can't say, but seemed like BG had about 10 corners and maybe another 5-10 resets where they could put the ball in box, but in all that, only able to come up with 1 goal. BG had a goal called back in the 1st, and I'm still not quite sure what the call was. UT lead 1-0 at the half on a great shot from the top of the box by Otteson, but BG was all over UT at the start of the 2nd, and finally got 1 on a really skilled redirect in the box. UT came right back though, and scored after their 1st corner on another beautiful redirect from Mia Leonetti. But, as Buchholz teams seemlingly always are want to do, UT gave up a one on one opportunity late and BG's skill won out and tied the game.

Still, with all their injuries and the recent bad showing in OOC play, never expected to come away with a tie, so I'll take it.

BG played a bit of a nasty game, getting 3 cards in the 2nd half, and committing numerous blatant holds all game long. Former UT star Ellie Pool went down with a non-contact injury in the 1st half and did not return. Hope she is ok.

Looks like BG had 4 yellows, not the three I thought, and committed 27 fouls. Bad look given how much more skilled BG was to UT across the board.

Rockets signed two, despite not having a coach

https://utrockets.com/news/2022/11/9/wom...class.aspx

(11-09-2022 06:06 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  Rockets signed two, despite not having a coach

https://utrockets.com/news/2022/11/9/wom...class.aspx

How is this possible? Who is making the decisions if there is no coach? The AD? Why would a player go to a school when they don't know who the coach will be, unless they have no other offers?

(11-10-2022 03:21 AM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  

(11-09-2022 06:06 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  Rockets signed two, despite not having a coach

https://utrockets.com/news/2022/11/9/wom...class.aspx

How is this possible? Who is making the decisions if there is no coach? The AD? Why would a player go to a school when they don't know who the coach will be, unless they have no other offers?

I think women are more prone to picking a university because of factors beyond their sport. Could be a good program in their desired major, atmosphere, etc. Always fun to have a player from a “national” team even if their nation isn’t a nation.

(11-10-2022 03:21 AM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  

(11-09-2022 06:06 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  Rockets signed two, despite not having a coach

https://utrockets.com/news/2022/11/9/wom...class.aspx

How is this possible? Who is making the decisions if there is no coach? The AD? Why would a player go to a school when they don't know who the coach will be, unless they have no other offers?

There is no head coach, but a couple of assistants were retained I believe.