By
Audrey DeAnda
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Friday's overtime win against Long Island University was just what the Wildcats needed to gain confidence after dropping three overtime matches earlier in the season.
In the Wildcats' last overtime match, Arizona took favored Loyola Marymount University into double overtime but came up short.
"That Loyola Marymount game was devastating to our psyche," UA head coach Cathy Klein said. "We absolutely gave it everything we had and for three minutes and 11 seconds, we were good enough."
Klein said an overtime victory was critical in order to get past the haunting memories of Arizona's previous matches.
"It creates doubt, and the only way to get rid of that doubt is to win games like this," Klein said.
The team certainly got a boost of confidence from the weekend wins.
"This win definitely put a lot of wind into our sails," freshman forward Liz Bartlett said.
Junior forward Kristi Lorona said she could tell the team was getting used to the pressure.
"We're relaxing more and everyone was talking to each other, rather than tensing up," Lorona said.
Arizona had many opportunities to win Friday's game against Long Island University in regulation, leading the Blackbirds in shots, 21-10.
However, hasty decisions and missed opportunities sent Arizona into its fifth overtime game of the season.
"(Sophomore defender) Naomi (Chu) could have ended the game when she was alone but she shot early," Klein said. "That was just anxiety - you have to learn to manage anxiety."
The team is still learning to deal with the pressure of game situations.
"They're learning slowly, painfully slowly, what it takes to be an elite program," Klein said. "Every time the defense shifts, there is a new problem to solve. You can't just shoot it."
Senior goalkeeper Inger Airheart made a comeback in front of the net this weekend after being sidelined for two weeks with an injured shoulder.
Airheart made her debut this season on Sept. 14 against New Mexico only to reaggravate an injury to her shoulder.
Although junior Shannon Monti has been the Wildcats' main goalkeeper throughout most of the young season, Klein decided to give Airheart playing time due to her experience and composure.
"When you have goalkeepers like Inger and Shannon, you have to find a way to get them both on the field," Klein said. "Especially now that they're healthy and fit."
Airheart is happy that she is healthy and can contribute to the team.
Being a senior on the team, Airheart has noticed how different this year has been compared to previous seasons.
"Last year, a lot of reasons why we would lose would be because we would give up," Airheart said. "This year we would lose because we were unlucky."
But the Wildcats seemingly have turned their luck around - at least for one weekend.
"The wins were huge for our team," Airheart said. "I think we're finally getting use to playing under pressure."
