The struggling Syracuse women’s soccer team lost its fourth consecutive game Sunday, matching the longest losing skid in the team’s seven-year history. But as the Orangewomen fight for their first win in more than two weeks, the top two goalies are digging in for a turf war of their own.

Freshman Emily Kowalczyk and sophomore Shannon Myers competing for the starting job, but neither has stood out yet. Myers has started three games to Kowalczyk’s five, and the two have split time in two games.

“We’re waiting for someone to take the position,” Syracuse head coach April Kater said. “There’s too much waffling in net right now.”

Syracuse has been far from hospitable to its goalies, allowing more than 15 shots per game and netting just two goals in the last five games. The low-scoring offense and porous defense have left the goaltenders with little room for error.

Myers started in Friday’s 3-0 loss to Connecticut but was pulled at halftime after allowing two goals. A 20-yard shot by UConn’s Lauren Naida sailed just over the keeper’s outstretched hand in the 41st minute. The Huskies doubled their lead in the final seconds of the half when Brittany Barakat redirected a cross into the back of the net.

“I feel like I played scared today,” Myers said. “I made a misjudgment. That’s why I was pulled.”

The Orangewomen’s defense shored up when Kowalczyk replaced Myers, who played every minute in net SU last season. Kowalczyk made 12 second-half saves, the most since Katie Karlander stopped 12 against Colgate in 2000.

For as well as she played, Kowalczyk allowed the third UConn goal, with 10 minutes left in the game, when Elisa Pirinen’s shot dribbled past four Syracuse defenders and a screened Kowalczyk.

“It’s hard to be happy,” Kowalczyk said. “There was a bit of a misconception between the whole defense. It resulted in kind of a weak goal.”

Kowalczyk’s performance earned her the start on Sunday against St. John’s. Syracuse dropped the game, 2-0, allowing two goals in a seven-minute span midway through the second half, and Kowalczyk finished with just four saves.

Statistically, Kowalczyk seems to be pulling ahead of Myers. Her .795 save percentage compares favorably with Myers’ .667.

Still, Kater insists that the starting keeper won’t be decided until Kowalczyk or Myers performs well enough to stay in net.

“Until someone wants it,” Kater said, “we’re just going to keep switching.”

Published on September 22, 2002 at 12:00 pm