The women’s soccer team didn’t have to travel far to close the door on its neighbor to the northwest, Western Connecticut State. The Cardinals played their second night game of the season, and were also forced to adjust to playing on a turf field, but even with these impediments the Cardinals improved their overall record to 4-2-0 with a 1-0 win.
Neither team was able to post a goal in the first half, but the Cardinals netted the game’s only goal in the opening minutes of the second half to provide the winning margin. Dasha Battelle ’11 set up Katrina Ellis-Ferrara ’13, finally getting the Redbirds on the scoreboard at 49:48. Ellis-Ferrara translated the attacking run into a goal as she chipped the ball over the reach of the drawn-out goalie.
“Western Connecticut is a very solid team,” said goalkeeper Clare Colton ’12. “It was different for us playing on turf and at night, but we were able to pull through in the second half with a beautiful goal by one of our freshmen. It was a great win for us because we have a very big weekend coming up.”
On the defensive end of the field, the Cardinals set another program mark for the fewest goals surrendered in a five-game stretch, as they have allowed just one point in their past four matches. The Cardinals achieved this record by posting their fourth shutout of the season; as Wesleyan has not allowed a goal in any of its four wins. Netminders Colton and Kate Connolly-Smithwick ’13 combined for four saves against Western Connecticut to help the Cardinals achieve the feat.
“Our defense has been an integral part of our success this season,” said Colton. “They have really helped Kate and I do our job in the back third of the field. I have high hopes for the rest of the season because we have a great team that has really raised the bar for Wesleyan soccer. We have a very competitive team and I think we have the potential to do great things.”
The Cardinals return to action this weekend, hitting the road for a pair of key conference games. The Cardinals face Trinity on Saturday afternoon, and then finish off the week with a trip to Middlebury on Sunday. Besides the difficulty of all the travel, the Cardinals will also have their hands full with both the Bantams and the Panthers, each of which is ranked in the top four of the NESCAC standings. The Cardinals currently rest in the bottom half of the conference standings at 1-2-0, having opened play against some of the NESCAC’s top squads, but look to move up this weekend as they travel up the coast.
Leave a Reply