The women’s soccer team has been surging since last Saturday, going 4-0 and moving into first place in the Patriot League. The team improved to 3-0 in the league and 8-4 overall with wins over Navy, Vermont, Cornell and American. In an incredibly physical game against Navy last Saturday, the Raiders beat the Mids where it counted- on the scoreboard. Colgate remained perfect in the Patriot League and at home as it beat Navy, 3-1. The Raiders got off to a good start when first-year Franny Iacuzzi put the Raiders on top only four minutes into the game. Her goal was set up by junior Kelly Kuss, who found Iacuzzi in front the net after a Raider throw-in. The Mids quickly struck back in the ninth minute when a Katie Eames header found the back of the net off a Sarah Hessinger corner kick. Colgate would retake the lead, however, 20 minutes later on a corner kick of its own. Sophomore Kelly Niland sent a pass past the Navy keeper to the foot of junior Carolyn Warhaftig, who put the Raiders up, 2-1. Colgate was able to put the game out of reach in the 76th minute when Iacuzzi found the back of the net for the second time. The play was set up by Kuss, who split the defense with a great pass that spurned Iacuzzi on a breakaway. The team was once again anchored by strong defensive play, as the Raiders held the Mids scoreless for the final 83 minutes of play. The Raiders took on Vermont last Sunday in a game that was all Colgate. Iacuzzi got things going early when she found the net four minutes into the game for her tenth goal of the season. Kuss recorded her sixth assist of the season on the play. Iacuzzi’s goal was all the Raiders would need as the defense recorded its third shutout of the season. Colgate would get two insurance goals, however, from first-year Jamie Dennison. Dennison scored the first goal of her Colgate career 39 minutes into play with the help of Iacuzzi, who got credit for the assist. But Dennison was not don. She struck again two minutes into the second half to put the Raiders up, 3-0. Warhaftig and Niland were credited with the assists. The Raiders returned to action when they hosted Cornell. The home team was able to use the combination of dangerous forwards and a smothering defense to defeat the Big Red. Colgate’s forwards scored early when Iacuzzi took a pass from Kuss and headed it past the goalkeeper to put Colgate up, 1-0, eight minutes into the match. The assist was Kuss’ ninth of the season, a Patriot League best. Iacuzzi would strike again 20 minutes later on a through ball from sophomore Jackie Burch that gave the Raiders an insurance goal and a 2-0 advantage. The defense shined again at home as it recorded the team’s fourth shutout in six games at Van Doren Field. The Raiders has allowed just .33 goals per game at home, where it is 6-0. The Raiders were back on the road on Wednesday when they took on American in one of the team’s toughest league tests. Niland put Colgate ahead, 1-0, when she put a shot past American keeper Alison Doyle after a loose ball. The Eagles tied the game with a Jana Lee header that beat sophomore goalkeeper Luisa Miller, knotting the score at one with 25 minutes to play. But Colgate broke the tie three minutes later when a Niland corner kick found the head of Kuss, who put the ball in the back of the net. The Raiders held American scoreless for the rest of the match to keep the team perfect in the Patriot League. Iacuzzi was named the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week for her performances against Navy and Vermont. The first-year has been explosive on offense this year, leading the Raiders and the Patriot League with 12 goals on the season, five of which have been game-winners. Iacuzzi needs just three more goals to tie Colgate’s all-time first-year record of 15 goals in a season. Kuss is also approaching history, as she moved into seventh place on the Raiders’ all-time assist list. Colgate currently sits atop the Patriot League standings with a 3-0 record in league play. The team will put its perfect league record on the line tomorrow when it faces Holy Cross in Worcester.