The women’s soccer team (1-1 overall) began its season at .500 after shutting out Siena College 3-0 in the first game of its season, then falling to St. Joseph’s University 1-0 earlier this month. The Leopards’ third game against Mount St. Mary’s University on Wednesday was suspended in the second half due to lightning.
Led by an excellent defensive performance by sophomore goalkeeper Catherine Apker, the Leopards were able to take out the Siena College Saints. The offense was kickstarted by a goal from senior midfielder Ani Khachadourian in the 13th minute. The score marked an important milestone in her career, as it was her first goal for the Maroon and White.
“It was special,” Khachadourian said. “My entire family was there for the first time and I was really glad I could hug my mom after.”
The thrilling moment for the senior kept the Leopards rolling. The next to score was junior defender Katrina Santelli in the 51st minute.
“We always do scout for teams before we play them,” Santelli said of the team’s preparation. “We just look at the different style of plays and any key players we have to keep an eye on and then certain weaknesses we can exploit.”
“Match day minus two is focused on what the other team will come out with,” she continued. “Match day minus one we focus on us.”
The final goal of the game was made by sophomore midfielder Nadia Zaffanella in the 82nd minute of the competition, assisted by senior midfielder Gretchen Waechter.
Waechter and the rest of the team are looking to compete in their first Patriot League playoff appearance since 2019.
“This year we focused a lot more time, especially during preseason, outlining our goals and stuff we want to see during the season,” Waechter said.
In pursuit of a postseason appearance, the Maroon and White are counting on reinforcements from the freshman class. Eight freshmen now contribute to the future of the women’s soccer program.
“All of our seniors get paired with a freshman, so we have a buddy system,” said Khachadourian, whose “buddy” is freshman midfielder Jessica Giordanella.
“She’s done a great job integrating herself in the team and playing really well,” she continued about Giordanella. “All the freshmen, in general, have been great assets to the team.”
Last Thursday, the Leopards dropped their second game 1-0 at St. Joseph’s University (3-0 overall). The offense stayed hot with 12 shots on goal, matching the Hawks, but failed to convert on any of its chances.
Defensively, The Maroon and White held up for most of the play but gave up a goal to the Hawks in the 87th minute that ultimately decided the game.
The Leopards then traveled to Mount St. Mary’s on Wednesday for their third game of the season, but the match was suspended in the second half due to lightning. The score was 0-0, with the Maroon and White outpacing the Mountaineers 11 to eight in shots and five to two in shots-on-goal at the time of the suspension.
The team’s match against the Mountaineers was officially suspended and none of the statistics from the game will count towards season numbers. The team still looks to build off of its 1-1 start to the season.
“We want to keep building on the magic of performance we’ve talked a lot about, which I feel will come with big wins throughout the season and playing together and really getting the results when the results count,” Santelli said.
“We are not finishing the season without making it to the playoffs,” Waechter said.