Team searching for backup goalie after injuries

Two players sat out practice yesterday due to injuries sustained in Friday night’s season opener against Utah.

Senior defender Kaity Heath and junior goalkeeper Devon Wharf sat out Sunday’s overtime victory against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo entirely.

Wharf is suffering from a knee injury and was at practice with a full leg brace. No details were given for Heath’s injury. Both players are listed as day-to-day, said head coach Dan Tobias.

“”Out of the two, Devon looks like the one who will probably be unable to go this weekend, but we are awaiting confirmation on that,”” Tobias said.

With three of its four goalkeepers out with injuries, Arizona has found itself with no backup. Tobias said the team is working on finding a backup for freshman Danielle Nicolai.

“”We’ve been exploring, trying to find another player who’s not on the roster that’s a goalkeeper,”” Tobias said. “”But right now, we’d just have to use another field player in goal if Danielle was to go down.””

Defense needs boost after giving up 5 goals

Arizona gave up five goals in its opening two games of the weekend against Utah and Cal Poly. The defense also allowed Cal Poly to come back from a 3-1 deficit in the second half of Sunday’s game to force overtime.

While the Wildcats still managed to win the latter game, defender Claire Bodiya admitted the team needs to clean up defensively.

Giving up those goals “”was not something we were really proud of,”” she said, “”but they were mistakes we can definitely fix. Luckily, it happened early so we can learn from it.””

The team has been forced to make an unexpected adjustment to Nicolai due to the injury to the regular starter Wharf.

“”Regardless of who’s behind us, the back line should never let a shot off,”” Bodiya said Sunday. “”So (the goalkeeper change) just reminded us of that rule, and we have confidence in Danielle, so we’re not too worried. We just need to make sure that we’re really tight in front of her.””

– Bobby Stover