Women's soccer begins October with non-conference draw

Penalty kicks account for both goals in battle of first-year programs

Sophomore keeper Zoe Wiggall finds the ball through net-front traffic during a 1-1 draw against Gillette College at Ruegger Field in Sioux City on October 2.
Sophomore keeper Zoe Wiggall finds the ball through net-front traffic during a 1-1 draw against Gillette College at Ruegger Field in Sioux City on October 2.
October 2, 2023

The Western Iowa Tech women's soccer team met the NJCAA Division I version of itself Monday morning in Sioux City.

Fellow first-year program Gillette College took on the Comets at Ruegger Field and played to a 1-1 draw.

Both teams needed penalty kicks to score. WIT scored on Alexa Delatorre's PK 36 minutes into the match to give the Comets a 1-0 lead at halftime. Gillette answered when WIT was called for a handball inside the box in the 76th minute.

WIT finished September 3-4-1 after an 0-5 August.

"This was a great test to see how far we have come, they matched up well with us," head coach Eddie Vongsiprasom said. "The whole team played aggressive. I preach that we must be the aggressive team, especially at home. They answered."

The Comets (3-9-2 overall, 2-2-1 at home) get back into Iowa Community College Athletic Conference play at Hawkeye Community College on Saturday.

"The team rallied around each other today," Vongsiprasom said. "It was nice to see that. But they are ready for a nice break before our next conference match-up."

The draw comes two days after a 4-0 win against visiting Marshalltown at South Sioux City High School. The Tigers began with just eight players and lost two to injury during the match. The match was calle with 30 minutes remaning in the second half.

These types of games are never easy to play," Vongsiprasom said. "I'm proud of the girls for staying focused. We could've taken it easy and created bad habits."

Brenda Villacres scored her first goal of the season in the 36th minute, and followed with her second in the 48th.

Emma Jolly scored on a penalty kick in third minute and Amya Topete scored in the 30th.

Zoe Wiggall recorded her third clean sheet of the season.

The Comets' most recent loss came at the hands of the defending NJCAA D1 national champions.

WIT lost 16-0 to Iowa Western in Council Bluffs on Wednesday, Sept. 27.

"It was a nice experience for me as a coach," Vongsiprasom said. "I was able to see what it took to be a championship team. I saw the skills, the speed and the team chemistry."