The women’s soccer team (2-3-4 Patriot League, 5-6-4 overall) went winless in its final two games, losing 2-1 at home to Bucknell University (7-2 Patriot League, 11-4-2 overall) before drawing with Navy (3-4-2 Patriot League, 9-9-2 overall). The draw with the Midshipmen saw the team finish the season outside of a playoff spot, missing out by a single point in the standings.
The Leopards’ match against Bucknell came on their Senior Day at Gummeson Grounds. Nine players from the class of 2025 were honored before the game began. Senior midfielder Michaela Salvati nearly marked the occasion with a goal in the 12th minute, firing the ball on goal with a half-volleyed effort that drew a save from the Bucknell goalkeeper.
Just five minutes later, the Bison would strike first. Bucknell worked the ball down the Leopards’ right flank before delivering a floated cross that the Leopards could not clear, giving the Bucknell striker a chance to score. It was a poor opening half from the Leopards, who did not register another shot for the rest of the frame.
The start of the second half was not much better for the Maroon and White, who found themselves two goals behind just eight minutes into the second half. The goal came from a Leopards’ turnover at the halfway line, allowing Bucknell to race in on goal and make it a 2-0 game.
A 76th-minute goal from senior midfielder Gretchen Waechter after a scramble in the Bison penalty area narrowed the margin for the Leopards. However, it was not enough, and Bucknell held on to secure the three points at the final whistle.
Despite the loss to Bucknell, the Leopards still controlled their destiny on Wednesday night when they matched up against Navy. A win would have taken the Maroon and White above the Midshipmen and into a playoff place, setting the stage for a dramatic final day at Gummeson Grounds.
The Leopards had the best chance of the opening half in the 33rd minute when sophomore midfielder Nadia Zaffanella delivered a cross into the penalty area for Waechter, who directed her diving header just wide of the far post.
Junior midfielder Sofia Ruggiero would come close in the 43rd minute, cutting inside and curling an effort towards the far post that forced the Navy goalkeeper into a tough save. The Leopards outshot the Midshippers 7-2 in the opening half and were unlucky to enter the interval level at 0-0.
In the second half, Navy was content to let the Leopards dictate possession, playing in a low-lying defensive setup to prevent the Leopards from finding a winning goal.
The Maroon and White found a flurry of chances in the last 15 minutes of the game as they looked to break the defensive formation down. The first came in the 75th minute when Waechter delivered a cross from the right side that evaded the Navy goalkeeper and narrowly drifted beyond the post.
The final chance for the Leopards came to junior midfielder April McDonald just eight minutes later. Freshman defender Camryn Fitch delivered the ball into the box, where a Navy defender played a poor defensive header that looped in the air onto the head of McDonald, whose header was denied by the goalkeeper.
The Maroon and White continued to press in the final ten minutes, but couldn’t find the finishing touch, ending their season outside of the playoff places. Despite the result, however, both senior forward Alexa Jindal and sophomore goalkeeper Catherine Apker stressed their pride in the team’s performance this season.
“It was a tough result, but we ended on a high and played with pride,” Jindal said. “That’s all we’ve ever wanted to say.”
“I’m really proud of our girls, not just this game but in the entire season,” Apker said. “Unfortunately it was our last game, but I couldn’t have been happier with everybody’s performance today.”
