By Christine Houghton
Staff Writer
The women’s soccer team took the competition by storm for the first two rounds of the NCAA Championship with back to back wins on Saturday, Nov. 10 and Sunday, Nov. 11.
First playing Western Connecticut State University on a chilly but beautiful Saturday morning, the Lions controlled the game early on. Scoring in the first half of the game, junior defender Jen McGrogan snuck in a goal past Western Connecticut’s goalkeeper.
The team’s typical dominance on both sides of the ball was prevalent in this match with the Lions holding Western Connecticut to only five shots, two of them being shots on goal and only one taking place in the second half.
The College had a game total of 23 shots, 12 of them being on goal, with four goals. About 20 minutes into the second half, a series of goals sealed the win for the Lions.
Sophomore forward Randi Smith cashed in on an assist from junior midfielder Despina Lianidis to score the Lions’ second goal.
In the 80th minute, freshman midfielder/forward Lauren McLaughlin kicked in the team’s third goal with the help of sophomore defender Ally Weaver. Three minutes later, sophomore forward Julianna Bertolino scored the last goal of the game, making it 4-0 in the College’s favor.
The frigid temperatures could not keep the Lions’ spirits down as they battled Farmingdale State College on Sunday, Nov. 11.
Scoring right off the bat yet again, Smith punched in the game’s first and only goal off an assist from McGrogan for the Lions.
The Lions’ defense completely shut down Farmingdale, holding them to only one shot compared to the College’s 17 shots on the day. Freshman defender/midfielder Alexandria Ryan, sophomore defender Faith Eichenour, and junior defender McGrogan and Nora Burdge contributed to the defensive stronghold throughout this season.
Junior goalkeeper Nicole DiPasquale completed her 24th career shutout after this weekend’s games, tying for seventh in individual shutouts in program history.
The team continues its campaign on Saturday, November 17, playing away in Geneva, New York against Williams College in the third round of the NCAA Tournament.
