Photo by Mailee C. WangLast Saturday, Mills students and visitors huddled together on the Mills soccer field. For two hours, they sat in the bleachers while hugging, clapping, yelling and even once breaking into a rendition of the Mills fight song.
No, they did not gather for a modern Woodstock Festival. They came to see Mills face off against Simpson University.
The Mills soccer team ran, bunted, kicked and head-butted their way through the third game of the 2005 season.
Although goalie Nicole DaSilva, a junior, scored the team four saves in the first half of the game alone, Simpson won 6-0.
This is the third loss the team has experienced this year, the other two being Oregon Colleges Pacific University and Lewis and Clark University.
Despite the setback, Colette Bowler, the Mills soccer coach of 11 years, remained positive. "I think we have a lot of potential for this season, it's just getting the entire team healthy and fit enough to go 90 miles," she said.
Still, others were not so thrilled about the game. John Hartono, the father of Mills soccer player Stephanie Hartono, said, "The Mills team needs to be a little more aggressive…It's a soccer game, not a lovefest!"
Roy Stigall, a fan, said, "I thought the girls played hard … the more games they play, the better they will be."
Vivianna Pena, a freshwoman soccer player, agreed. "We just need to get to know each other so we can pass [the ball to each other] better," she said.
The Mills players will play their next game to win because as freshwoman Genevieve Evans said, "We [the team] want to give the fans something to feel good about."
The next soccer game will be played at home on Friday, Sept. 16, 2005 at 4 p.m. against William Jessup University.
