O'Connell has new style, but soccer team keeps winning

October 13, 2009

By CURT SYNNESS Independent Record

Wearing her hair up for the first time in her college career, Carroll College forward Meghan O'Connell ignited the Saints to a 5-1 victory over Walsh University at Nelson Stadium Monday.

O'Connell opened the scoring with a diving header at the six-minute mark, on a pass from Hannah Young, and then assisted Young's goal at 32:00 for the deciding tally.

On the first score, Young crossed a pass from the right corner. As the ball approached three feet off the ground about eight yards in front of the net, O'Connell dived face first, and bounced the ball off her forehead past Cavaliers keeper Jillian Zanney.

"It was a great cross from Hannah, and I was a little late getting there," O'Connell explained. "I wasn't sure whether to kick it or head it, so I just dove at the last second. I ate a face full of paint when I landed, too."

She said the reason for the new hairstyle was because of a promise she made to senior teammate Katie Martin, after Martin registered her first career goal against Arizona's Southwestern College Saturday.

"Katie had never scored a goal in college, and I told her if she ever did, I would put my hair up for the next game," said O'Connell, who is renowned for playing with her long brown hair down.

"I told Meghan the only reason she was able to see (the ball) for the header was because her hair was up," teammate Kristine Sowers said with a laugh.

Right before the intermission, O'Connell did her impression of Pele', just missing on a "bicycle kick." With her back to the goal, she fell back on her shoulders and flicked the ball above her face towards the net, which was blocked by Zanney.

The Saints (9-4-1) went up 3-0 after halftime, when Taryne Ela shook the net at 49:00, assisted by Molly Clark.

Three minutes later, Rachel Nauman tallied Walsh's only goal, on a penalty kick.

At 68:00, CC's Lauren Cacopardo booted a bomb from 40 yards out that sailed cleanly into the left corner of the goal, as the visiting goalie scrambled to get back into position.

Hannah Young and Cavs' keeper Sara Boytim raced for the ball at the top of the box, which Boytim kicked out to midfield, where Cacopardo teed off on her score on one bounce.

Abby Coburn put a bulge in the onion bag at 84:00 for the hosts' final tally. Young was credited with her second assist.

The Saints' out-shot the team from Ohio, 10-3.

Carroll's defense was led by Sowers and Martin, among others.

"I think this was our strongest defensive effort so far," said Sowers, a senior defender from Snowhomish, Wash. "We kept our formation, we knew when to step and when to contain."

Carroll next travels to MSU-Billings on Friday and Rocky Mountain College on Sunday.

 

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