The UCA women’s soccer team (1-3-1) lost their fourth away game of the season against the University of Tulsa with a score of 1-0 on Thursday evening, Sept. 1.

Tulsa’s Coach Jim Rhein described the matchup as a “dogfight,” in the second half and said The Bears were “up for the fight,” on the team’s website tulsahurricane.com.

UCA sophomore midfielder Kelly Van Gundy said, “I was proud of the way our team held Tulsa … We came with energy knowing that Tulsa would be a hard match and I think we matched up well.”

The first half of the match was scoreless but not without seven shots taken by the Bears, with three on goal. Tulsa’s sophomore goalkeeper Kylie Koeijmans blocked all three shots, two by UCA’s senior midfielder Sydney Brough and one by Van Gundy.

The Golden Hurricane brought eight shots on goal to freshman goalkeeper Lenja Kenstel in the first half, who managed five saves overall, three of which were in the first three minutes of the match.

UCA’s defense showed its strength, but the Bears’ offense could not break through in the first period, ending with a 0-0 score.

“We have a new set of personnel in the attack this year compared,” Van Gundy said. “I think going forward, figuring out how to connect how we play on defensive with a newer offensive is something that we can continue working on that will help us put away some wins.”

The only goal of the entire match came just three minutes into the second half, from Tulsa’s junior defender Madison Tokarchik.

Tokarchik was able to nail the goal with a pass from her teammate freshman midfielder Emilie Torres.

Not to be counted out, the Bears nearly tied the game shortly after Tulsa’s goal with a woodwork hit from graduate student defender Gracie Hair.

The goal at the top of the period proved to be the one to beat, with both teams’ offenses unable to make a mark.

“We gave up an unfortunate goal in the second half that we couldn’t get back,” Van Gundy said. “But we definitely created chances to do so.”

Hair’s close shot and two more amounted to the only three shots taken by the Bears in the second half of the match. Tulsa’s Golden Hurricane managed nine shots, two of which were saved by UCA sophomore Kajsa Pruner. 

The match moved Tulsa 3-1-1, while the Bears dropped 1-3-1 overall.

The Bear’s next two games will both be at home, affording the team a break in their away game losing streak.

The Bears have yet to clutch a win away from home but beat the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in the Governor’s I-40 Showdown, with a score of 3-1 on Aug. 25 at home. 

This win, the team’s only victory of the season, marked Coach Jeromy Bishop’s 100th win with the program.

Bishop told the Echo last issue, “You gotta get better every day. We’re a fairly young team, so we just gotta make sure we get better every day.”

UCA will match up against Grambling State Sept. 9 at 7 p.m., and once more in the week against Oklahoma State Sept. 11 at 1 p.m.

Brough said she is looking forward to the upcoming matches.

“I am ready to finally play home after a long journey away against really good teams,” Brough said. “I think we are in the right mindset as a team to make the most of these two games. Of course, we’re gonna have to take it game after game and only focus on the moment but it’s always a pleasure to play in front of our community and friends.”

Grambling State stands 2-4 with a four-game loss streak heading into the match. 

Oklahoma State stands 3-1-1, with more wins away (2-1-1) than home (1-0).