By Heather Fabritze
News Editor
Washington College women’s soccer had a strong showing for their season openers this past weekend with two home victories against the Grove City College Wolverines and the Marymount University Saints.
In their first ever all-time matchup against GCC, the Shorewomen narrowly claimed the win on Aug. 30 with a final score of 3-2.
After a series of missed shots from both sides, the first half ended in WC’s favor with a goal from sophomore midfielder Kaileigh Brady, who caught a rebound from freshman forward Lindsey Nguyen.
WC entered halftime with 10 total shots, five of which were saved by GCC goalkeeper senior Courtney Lisman.
According to Brady, the Shorewomen went up against the Wolverines knowing that they needed to show a strong will against an already skilled team.
“We were all extremely excited to start off the season because of how much work we had put in this summer and the talent of the team this year,” Brady said. “We knew we had a tough opponent coming into the game and that we were going to have to leave it all on the field.”
With that attitude, the second period was more promising for both teams. Forward and Elm opinion editor sophomore Sophie Kilbride brought the score to 2-0 for the Shorewomen after halftime with a pass assist from fifth-year defender Amity Harrington.
Only three minutes later, the Wolverines raised the game’s stakes with a 2-1 goal from senior midfielder Emma Herrmann. In the 61st minute, Herrmann was awarded a penalty kick which she once again sank in the net, tying the game at 2-2.
The Shorewomen clinched the win just three minutes from the buzzer with another goal from Brady, who was named Goose Nation TV player of the game. Kilbride assisted Brady with a dribble down the middle of the field.
“When Grove City tied the game we knew we couldn’t leave the field without a win, and we gave it all we had until the ref blew the whistle and luckily walked away with a win,” Brady said.
WC’s second match on Sept. 1 against Marymount University was less of a nail-biter than the opener, as the Shorewomen trampled the Saints with a dominating 3-0 win.
Marymount attempted to open the affair offensively with a shot on goal only a few minutes into the first period, which sophomore goalkeeper Olivia Allen saved with ease.
The Shorewomen, by comparison, opened with a show of strength by sophomore forward Gina Phillips, who hit the net with Nguyen’s support. The pair followed up that dual performance with another 2-0 shot in the 18th minute.
Sophomore defender and midfielder Audrey MacNair rounded out the score at the 25th minute after a fumble from the Saints’ goalie.
Although both teams took multiple shots on goal in the second half, neither made it past the guard of Allen nor Marymount goalkeeper senior Hannah Mockenhaupt. The Shorewomen ended the match with 16 shots compared to the Saints’ four.
WC’s opening weekend was an optimistic showing after the Centennial Conference’s preseason poll slated them to finish seventh, just outside of the playoff picture. The team will continue their home stretch on Sept. 4 with a game against rival Salisbury University.
Photo by Ella Humphreys
Photo Caption: Shorewomen soccer found the back of the net six times opening weekend, with all six goals coming from sophomores.