After playing 109 scoreless minutes against Tufts at home on Tuesday, Sept. 24, the women’s soccer team finally conceded a goal with just 25 seconds remaining in the second overtime in a heartbreaking 1-0 loss. Goalkeepr Jessica Tollman ’15 turned in another impressive performance in the net; her 13 saves were good for her second-highest total in her Wesleyan career.
The game looked as if it was going to be Wesleyan’s third draw in four matches before a Tufts forward fired a shot from 25 yards out with 30 seconds left in the overtime period. The shot banged off the crossbar before rebounding to Jumbo midfielder Robin Estus, who lofted a shot just over Tollman for a Tufts victory.
The loss dropped Wesleyan to a 0-3-2 record, while Tufts improved to 3-2-0. While the game could have gone either way, the loss certainly did not come from a lack of effort.
“[Head Coach Eva Meredith] just felt bad for us because we couldn’t have put more heart or effort into the game,” said Anne Coyle ’17, a Cardinal defender. “She also said that just because it didn’t line up that day, it doesn’t mean it’s going to stay that way, and that it was definitely a good step in the right direction. Now we just have to play like that and win.”
Although the Jumbos outshot the Cardinals 26-15 in the contest, there were key scoring opportunities throughout the game for both teams. Cardinal players hit the crossbar with two different shots, one in each half, and finished with six shots on goal.
Perhaps the best scoring chance for either team before Estus’ game winner came off a corner kick by Wesleyan in the second overtime. Katy Hardt ’15, who recorded an assist on a corner kick last Saturday against Bates, sent a ball that sailed into the box and was headed by Madeline Keane ’16. Keane’s shot was right on target, but Tufts goalkeeper Kristin Wright made one of her six saves, diving to her right, as the Jumbos thwarted the attempt.
“I think we definitely put in the effort [to win], and it was more that the ball just wasn’t bouncing our way,” Coyle said. “[Tufts] put in a great effort and they were very physical right back at us which was what made them such tough competition.”
Tollman’s thirteen saves were the most she had made since the 2011 NESCAC tournament, when she made 17 stops in a game that went all the way to penalty kicks against Tufts. That year, the Cardinals ended up winning in a penalty shootout.
“Everyone, hands down, thought she was out-of-this-world amazing,” Coyle said of Tollman’s performance on Tuesday. “People on the team were going up to her after the game and telling her she was their hero. I had never really seen a performance like that. She really saved the team.”
While the team’s record may not be as good as anyone would like it to be at this point, the Cardinals have hung tough in almost every game this year. Two of their three losses have been decided by just one goal, and three of their five games this season have gone into second overtime periods.
The Cardinals’ next game is this Saturday, Sept. 28 at Hamilton in another NESCAC matchup. Hamilton is currently 3-1-1 on the year, and has won their previous two matchups against Wesleyan.
After playing two straight double overtime games, having a couple of days to rest before their next game could be key to the Cardinals’ success against Hamilton on Saturday.
“We’re going to make sure everyone stays healthy and that we keep our positive attitudes up,” Coyle said. “[Other keys will be] just looking out for each other and making sure that we don’t slack off and that we’re ready to go.”