The women’s soccer team dominated this past week, shutting out Drew University on Wednesday, Sept. 1, Bridgewater College on Saturday Sept. 4 and University of La Verne on Sunday Sept. 5. The No. 3 ranked Lions are now 3-0 on the season.
“It feels great to start the season off with wins,” sophomore midfielder Michelle Canning said. “It shows how all of our hard work individually during the summer and as a team during preseason came together and we were able to produce the results we wanted.”
Canning helped the Lions capture the season opener with a 1-0 win over the Rangers, netting her first collegiate goal with 2:35 remaining in the first half. Freshman goalkeeper Kendra Griffith recorded her first shutout and win as a Lion with one save in goal.
The Lions continued the season on Saturday at Elizabethtown College facing Bridgewater College in the Blue Jay Classic. Junior forward Brenna Rubino led the Lions with a hat trick in order to shut out the Eagles. Sophomore forward Jessica Davila added two more goals, with sophomore forward Allyson Anderson and sophomore midfielder Toni DeMaio netting one each to make it a 7-0 final. The Lions served the Eagles the team’s first loss of the season.
“We really work well together and each and every player is contributing and working hard,” Rubino said.
The Lions continued the team’s winning streak on Sunday with one more game in the Blue Jay Classic taking on the University of La Verne. The 4-0 shutout by the Lions put the Leopards at 0-2 on the season so far. Junior defender Britney McGinley scored two for the Lions, while Anderson and Davila picked up the assists. Davila also netted one and junior forward Jaclyn Greco finished the game with a goal in the 87th minute off an assist from freshman forward Katie Lindacher for the 4-0 win.
“With every practice and game we are just getting smarter and stronger and becoming an even better team,” Davila said.
Junior goalkeeper Samantha Iamurri split the shutout win with Griffith for the second straight game. Both keepers recorded one save in the game.
The team will continue the season on Saturday Sept. 11, hosting the Adidas Classic home at the Soccer Complex. The Lions play Husson College at 11 a.m.
“To continue winning games we need to play our roles,” Rubino said. “We need to follow our coaches, continue to work hard and just push each other to be the best.”
Hilarey Wojtowicz can be reached at wojtowi3@tcnj.edu.
