The UW-Eau Claire women’s soccer team came up short in the first two games of the season this weekend, starting out the season 0-2.

The Blugolds opened the season Friday against the University of Dubuque Spartans, losing 0-1 in double overtime. Neither team was able to find the back of the net until the second overtime, despite each team having 12 shots on the books at the end of the regular game.

Fifth-year goalkeeper Sammie Lefaive recorded six saves Friday, but allowed a Spartan header at the 111:38 mark to finish off the game with a 0-1 score.

“Our biggest challenge for this season is finishing off the plays, getting those goals in,” Lefaive said. “We know how to get there, we know how to finish. We just have to do it.”

The team stayed in Iowa overnight and played another game against Loras College Saturday, where the team fell short in another close game.

The Loras Duhawks were able to move past the defense to score at the 38:10 mark. The Blugolds closed the gap at the 48:26 mark, finishing the half 1-1, thanks to a goal by third-year forward Jordyn Schoen, with an assist from fourth-year midfielder Monica Zoellner.

The second half was not as fruitful for the Blugolds. The team allowed a Duhawk goal off a header at the 63:10 mark, solidifying the 1-2 final score and granting the Duhawks a win.

Head Coach Sean Yengo said he is proud of the team’s start, but he knows what needs to be done to improve.

“Last year we were 1-7 in one-goal games. That’s definitely something we want to improve on, though both of our games this weekend were one-goal games,” Yengo said. “We have a job to do — a requirement — and we have to fulfill that requirement.”

The Blugolds will host Macalester College at 5:00 p.m. Sept. 5 at Bollinger Fields.

Kelley can be reached at [email protected].