The Colgate women’s soccer team beat both the weather and their opponents in their two games at the Villanova Invitational. The Raiders beat Robert Morris University and Hartford University on Friday and Sunday by a combined score of 5-1. While Colgate was victorious in the two games, they also came out on top against the inclement weather, as the second game was played indoors.

In Friday morning’s game, the Raiders shut out Robert Morris 2-0. The two goals were scored by sophomore Josie Johnson and first-year Jillian Arnault. Johnson reached the back of the net in the 28 minute on a long shot from the middle of the box. The goal marked Johnson’s first points of the year after receiving co-Rookie of the Year and All-Second Team honors in the Patriot League and scoring six goals and eight assists last season. First-years Kiki Koroshetz and Jessica Bitsack each tallied an assist on the goal.

During the opening minutes of the second half Bitsack provided another assist on a breakaway goal for Arnault. Junior Brittany Pearsall made the first start of her career and made two saves en route to the shutout. Colgate dominated on the offensive side of the ball, firing off double-digit shots in both halves and outshooting the Colonials 22-9.

After dispatching Robert Morris, the Raiders took on Hartford on Sunday afternoon. The game was played indoors because of heavy rain, but the new venue yielded the same results, as Colgate came out on top yet again, this time by a score of 3-1. Koroshetz opened up the scoring in the game towards the end of the first half with a one-timer from Senior Kelly Niland.

In the beginning of the second half Johnson recorded her second goal of the weekend to double the lead on a rebound shot. Arnault and Koroshetz each got an assist on the goal. Less than a minute later, Hartford brought the score to 2-1 with a goal on a corner kick, but that was as close as they would get for the rest of the game. Franny Iacuzzi put the finishing touches on the game with a goal in the 72 minute to ice the game, with Niland recording her second assist of the contest.

Junior Carly Sousa started in net in Sunday’s game following Pearsall’s shutout on Friday. Sousa made one save in the game and recorded her second victory of the season.

In the weekend Koroshetz scored a goal and had two assists on her way to claiming a stake as one of Colgate’s leading scorers. She was also recognized as the Patriot League Rookie of the Week for her efforts in the week ending September 3. Arnault also provided a goal and an assist over the weekend and Bitsack had two assists as first-years provided an offensive spark for the Raiders.

The Raiders are on the road yet again this weekend, playing in the Virginia Commonwealth Tournament. They will face off against the host school on Friday night and then play William and Mary on Sunday at noon. William and Mary is 3-1 on the season and are ranked seventh in the Mid-Atlantic region according to soccerbuzz.com. Colgate moved up a spot to ninth in the Northeast region in the same set of polls.