The women’s soccer team finished its season at home against Bowdoin Saturday, looking to avoid being shut out for the third straight game. This would not be the case, as the Polar Bears prevailed 3-0 thanks to strong defense and goals from three different players.
Like their last several games, the Cardinals found themselves in a tightly fought NESCAC match. Neither side was able to capitalize on numerous scoring opportunities, especially Bowdoin, which took 17 shots during the game. The Polar Bears (9-5-1, 4-4-1 NESCAC) first struck in the sixteenth minute, when Ann Ziegler scored off of a Cedar Goodman pass through the Wesleyan defensive front.
Both sides played solid defense for the remainder of the first half. When the Cards were able to enter the Bowdoin zone, they found themselves thwarted by Bowdoin coach John Cullen’s complex defensive schemes. The Polar Bear defenders were able to create numerous turnovers, many of which they converted into scoring chances. Despite the pressure, the Cardinal defense held fast for the remaining 30 minutes of the half.
The Birds continued their stellar defense from the end of the first half well into the second frame. They gave their opponent a fight within its defensive zone, keeping the team within striking range. While strong on defense, Wesleyan had difficulty matching Bowdoin’s prowess on the offensive side, getting off just seven shots in the match.
With 11 minutes to go, the Cardinal defensive front cracked enough for Rachel Gordon to beat goalie Kelly McFarling ’05 to give Bowdoin a 2-0 cushion. Minutes later, Kaitlin Hammersley tallied an insurance goal to provide the final score of the match.
According to co-captain Amanda Binns ’05, the game was a lot closer than the scoreboard showed.
“It didn’t look like a 3-0 game,” Binns said. “But when you take a chance to go up and score, you leave stuff open in the back sometimes…you have to take the chance if you want to win.”
The loss left the Cardinals in last place and without a playoff spot, as only the top seven teams in the conference make the post-season. Although it was a tough way to finish the season, strides toward a brighter future were made.
Despite the Cardinals’ 3-11 (1-7 NESCAC) record, it included their first conference victory since 2001 and a winning streak for the first time in years.
Nicole Gray ’08 led the team in scoring with eight points (3 goals, 2 assists) and was part of a stellar frosh class that should contend in the NESCAC within a couple of years. Defenders Marcia Whitehead ’08 and Laura Fine ’08 were consistently solid all year and appear ready to take over as the team’s defensive leaders.
Now a two-year veteran, Delia Mueller ’07 should ease the freshmen defenders’ transition into leadership roles. Besides Gray, the offense will feature Natalie Cohen ’06, the second-leading scorer, and talented Makenna Goodman ’07.
The biggest hole the Cardinals will need to replace for next year is in goal, which was ably defended this year by McFarling. She minded the net for all 1,274 minutes of the season. She made a total of 121 saves, which ranked near the top of the NESCAC. Her saves per game average led the league.
The efforts of first-year coach Eva Bergsten-Meredith paid off with the team’s first three-win campaign in seven years. She has molded the team into something that could be competitive in due time. Now that they have played under her for a full season, the players understand her methods better, and will be better prepared to execute on both sides of the ball next fall.
For many, including Elizabeth Langston ’05, this was the last season as a Cardinal and one in which the team made great strides
“Despite what the record might show, we showed great improvement, especially under the coaching of Eva, who is an amazing coach and a great person,” Langston said. “I think the program is only going to build in the next few years.”
Binns echoed Langston’s sentiments.
“There’s a lot of new girls and a great new coach,” Binns said. “It’s going to take a couple years to get moving but I think we’re going to be fine.”
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