The women’s soccer team (2-2-3 Patriot League, 5-5-3 overall) suffered an away 2-1 defeat against Colgate University (3-2-2 Patriot League, 5-8-3 overall) in its final road match of the season. The team now holds a two-point cushion on a playoff spot with two games remaining.
The Red Raiders grabbed the first goal of the game, scoring from a well-placed shot from the outside of the box. It was a surprising goal for the normally defensively strong Leopards, who entered the game off the back of a shutout against third-placed Army (4-2-1 Patriot League, 10-4-1 overall).
“There are always several factors that contribute to conceding goals, so we are all responsible,” senior midfielder Michaela Salvati wrote in an email. “We always go back and look at each situation, and learn from it.”
It was a frustrating first half for the Leopards, who could not get much offensive pressure on Colgate and were outshot 10-1 in the first half.
“We went over it in scout, but they’re a team that likes to continuously drop back,” senior midfielder Alexa Jindal said. “We wanted to take advantage of that by dribbling at them, but we didn’t find the courage to do that in the first half.”
The Leopards would find more of a foothold in the second half, generating more offensive opportunities. They would find an equalizer in the 79th minute, with sophomore midfielder Nadia Zaffanella heading home from junior midfielder April McDonald’s cross.
However, the Red Raiders responded immediately, restoring their lead with another long-range shot just two minutes later.
“I don’t think we switched off,” Jindal said. “I think it was more that they switched on and just went right for it.”
The game marked the first time this Patriot League season that the Leopards have conceded multiple goals in a game.
“We’re still a great defensive team,” Jindal said. “I don’t think that it was an issue with the back line, but more so something that the other team did well and them having really great shot takers.”
The team has two final home games left in the season, facing Bucknell University (5-2 Patriot League, 9-4-2 overall) and Navy (2-4-1 Patriot League, 8-9-1 overall). Two victories will see them clinch their first playoff berth since 2019.
“The players and coaches have been working hard since the end of last season and have been together day in and day out since the end of July,” Salvati wrote. “If we continue to work together, rely on our training and preparation, and follow the game plans given to us by the coaching staff, we have every ability to make it to the playoffs.”
Something that the Leopards can lean on is their stellar home form. The team is undefeated at Gummeson Grounds, which Jindal said is due to their team’s emphasis on defending home turf.
“We make a point to ‘Defend the Bog’ every time we have the chance to,” Jindal said. “Saturday is Senior Day and we tend to do well on days like that, so I have no doubt that will be the case.”
