Coming off a rebuilding year in 2005, the women’s soccer team headed into the opening week of play ready to build off of last year’s learning experiences. The Cardinals opened up their 2006 campaign with games against Williams and Mount Holyoke this past week, dropping a 5-1 decision to Williams on Saturday before evening their record at 1-1 with a 1-0 overtime victory over Mount Holyoke on Wednesday.
In the season opener, Williams jumped out to a 3-0 first-half edge and never looked back. The Ephs added another goal in the 52nd minute before Cardinals’ midfielder Sam Blank ’09 notched the team’s first goal of the season just one minute later. Picking up the assist on Blank’s goal was co-captain Danielle Crystal ’07, Wesleyan’s leading scorer last season. Williams would close the scoring shortly thereafter, as Joan Denver ’09 drilled home her second goal of the game.
“We fell apart defensively in the first half, but we came together in the second half, showed our character, and tried to get ready for the next game,” said Jaime Wendel ’07.
The Wesleyan starting lineup included four freshmen, two of whom started on defense. Unfortunately, a talented Williams team that finished 5-3-1 in the NESCAC last season used the width of its home field to expose the young Cardinal backline. Despite the discouraging loss, continued experience against quality NESCAC opponents will only help this young unit congeal.
Showing great resolve, Wesleyan bounced back strongly from the Williams game, dominating Mount Holyoke in a 1-0 overtime victory on Wednesday. The Cardinals controlled the flow of play throughout, getting off 32 shots while Mount Holyoke managed only four attempts.
Despite possessing the ball for the majority of the game, the Cardinals had difficulty finding the back of the net, as Mount Holyoke goalkeeper Elizabeth Guenther racked up 14 saves. Wesleyan broke through when Nicole Gray ’08 played a perfect cross to co-captain Lauren Ogden ’07, who coolly finished from 10 yards out, giving the Cardinals the victory. For Gray, the assist was a continuation of solid play thus far this season.
“Nicole ‘Cool’ Gray has started off this season with fire and grace as she sprints down the field leaving both her opponents and hair in the past,” Ogden said.
Suz Gerhardt ’09 got the start in goal against Mount Holyoke and collected three saves en route to her first career shutout in just her second start. Crystal and Blank continued their strong play up front, firing five shots each, while Ogden scored on her fourth shot of the match.
The Cardinals also got strong offensive contributions from their young players, with Taylor Stevenson ’10, Beth Kenworthy ’10, Elise Kaye ’10, and Ingrid Parl ’10 combining for eight shots; though their prowess on the field may not be the only reason they made the team.
“The requirement for the frosh to make the team this year was to have a name that started with a vowel, or be Marissa’s [Trevisan] twin from the back, or have David Beckham’s sweet cleats,” Ogden said.
The Cards hope to use those cleats to take down NESCAC foe Trinity on Saturday at 11 a.m. on North Field.
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