The women’s soccer team traveled to Brunswick, Maine this Saturday to take on NESCAC rival Bowdoin College. After a two game losing streak, the Cardinals knew they had to make a strong showing against the Polar Bears, a team Wesleyan hasn’t defeated for 16 years. In the end, the Cardinals stunned Bowdoin and rallied from a two-goal deficit to take home a 3-2 win. The game marks soccer’s first conference-win of the season, and with the victory the Cards snapped the Polar Bears’ three-match winning streak. With three NESCAC games ending in ties so far this season, this win was especially sweet for the Cardinals.
“It was a great victory,” said keeper Clare Colton ’12. “After so many close games this season it was wonderful to take down one of our rivals—and achieve a historic win in the process.”
Bowdoin came out ready to play and scored the first two goals of the game. The first goal was scored by Bowdoin’s Ellery Gould just 2:48 into the game. At 30:51 Bowdoin’s Christina Aceto was able to find the back of the net off of a corner kick, giving the Polar Bears a 2-0 advantage. However, the Cardinals were not ready to give up during the first half and fired back with an unassisted shot by Laura Kurash ’13 at 30:51.
Refueled and energized, the Cardinals charged onto the field and scored just 26 seconds into the second half. Kurash was able to find Barrie Lindsay ’12, who fired a shot into the lower-right corner to tie the game. Three minutes later, Kurash scored again with an assist from Kerry Doyle ’14. This gave the Cardinals a 3-2 lead for the rest of the match, ultimately sealing the Cardinals’ victory.
Wesleyan held a 17-10 advantage in shots, and got a pair of saves from Kate Connolly-Smithwick ’13 in her first start of the season after recovering from a summer injury. Kurash had a hand in all three of the goals scored—this was her second five-point game of the season.
With this win under their belt, the Cardinals are ready to take on Bates this Saturday, Oct. 16 in a NESCAC match-up.
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