As the Cardinals defeated Trinity College 2-0 Saturday on North Field, co-captain Danielle Crystal ’07 delivered her first two goals of the season and goalkeeper Suz Gerhardt ’09 earned her second consecutive shut out. Wesleyan (2-1, 1-1 NESCAC) is off to its best start since the 1997 squad jumped out to 3-1.
The Cards entered the game in the midst of a 10-year winless streak against the Bantams with two ties and seven losses dating back to a 2-0 victory in 1996. The streak included a tough 3-1 loss last season.
“After last year’s game at Trinity, we couldn’t wait to play them again and avenge our loss,” said Marissa Trevisan ’09. “I have a feeling that we’ll be avenging a lot of losses this year.”
Both teams moved the ball well through the midfield in the first half but found difficulty creating scoring chances as Gerhardt and Trinity goalkeeper Tara Finucane ’08 picked up just one save each. Crystal broke the stalemate just 2:55 into the second half due to great ball movement from Trevisan and co-captain Lauren Ogden ’07. Trevisan played a good ball into the corner for Ogden, who then sent the ball into the Trinity penalty box. Crystal deflected a clearing attempt by a Trinity defender right back into the net, giving the Cards a lead and the momentum.
Crystal struck again just over five minutes later, finishing a superb cross off the foot of Kylie Eyre ’08. For Eyre, seeing two goals scored off crosses signified the culmination of a week’s worth of practice.
“We had been focusing on crossing and finishing all week long, and on Saturday it all really came together,” she said. “Trinity came out fast and aggressive, but we were able to hold them off and capitalize on our scoring opportunities. This is a huge win for us, and the momentum will definitely carry into next week’s games.”
“It was great to win our first NESCAC home game, and we hope to continue our winning streak,” Trevisan added.
Crystal is now the leading goal scorer and point-getter on the Cardinal squad, a position she shared at the end of last season. A Wesleyan team that struggled offensively last year, averaging just 1.38 goals per game, has proved itself more dangerous in the opponent’s half thus far this season, scoring five goals in its first three games.
Much of the offensive improvement can be credited to consistent play from the midfielders, including Trevisan, Eyre, Taylor Stevenson ’10, and Samantha Blank ’09. This group has helped the Cardinals more effectively control the center of the field and in turn created numerous scoring chances for strikers Crystal, Ogden, and Nicole Gray ’08.
The victory over Trinity also highlighted the steady progression of the Cardinal back line. After surrendering five goals on 28 shots in the season opener against Williams, the back four have clamped down, allowing a combined 17 shots and zero goals in the past two games. Starters Beth Kenworthy ’10, Laura Fine ’08, Sarah Orkin ’09, and Marcia Whitehead ’08 also showed they are not afraid to jump into the offensive attack, recording eight shots on Saturday.
Their 1-1 record in the NESCAC places the Cards directly in the middle of the early season conference standings. The team takes on an out-of-conference opponent, Smith College, Tuesday before traveling to Vermont Saturday for a match up with 2-0 Middlebury College.
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