This past week, Colgate women’s soccer competed in the Patriot League Tournament. The team had an incredible season, going into the tournament with a 9-6-2 record. Their first game took place at home against Lehigh University on October 31, and the Colgate fans came out in full force to create an exciting  atmosphere for the team. In light of their regular season loss against Lehigh, the team was especially determined to come away with a win.

The team traveled to Annapolis, Maryland just days later on November 3 to take on Navy in the semi-finals of the Patriot League Tournament. This was the first time Colgate made it to the semi-finals since the 2014 season.  Unfortunately, the Raiders were unable to continue their momentum and had a tough 0-3 loss to Navy.

The game against Lehigh was filled with twists and turns but remained 0-0 until the 99th minute. The Raiders controlled possession for the majority of the first half, outshooting the Mountain Hawks 14-2. First-year goalkeeper Ellis Miller and sophomore goalkeeper Kelly Chiavaro had numerous key saves for the Raiders, preventing the Mountain Hawks from getting on the board. The second half was similar to the first half with Colgate keeping pressure on Lehigh to no avail.

At the end of the second half the game was still scoreless and continued into overtime.  With the fans on the edge of their seats, the Raiders stepped up with just 1:46 left in OT. First-year defender Syd Maxson started off the play with a free kick following a foul on Lehigh. Maxson’s kick was perfectly placed to the center of the box, which was then passed around eventually reaching sophomore defender Leah Lewis. Lewis redirected the ball to senior forward Emily Crichlow who found the back of the net, securing the win for the Raiders.

“This game took a full effort from all twenty four players. It was one of our best games all season and all of the hard work we had put in from day one was finally brought out in that win,” senior captain Keely Lockwood said.

The Raiders then battled the top seeded Navy team in the semi-finals. Navy controlled the field from the beginning getting on the board in just the seventh minute. Just twenty minutes later Navy advanced their lead to 2-0. The first half ended at 2-0, without a goal from the Raiders. Colgate fought hard in the second half but it wasn’t enough to mount a comeback against a tough Navy team. In the 85th minute Navy was able to further advance their lead to 3-0, which sealed their victory against the Raiders. Despite a difficult loss to Navy, the team had an incredible season.  

This game against Navy was especially bittersweet for senior captains Eliza Doll, Keely Lockwood and Emily Crichlow.

“For as long as I can remember, soccer has been a major part of my life. It’s crazy to think that it’s over after 15 years, but I’ve had incredible memories and experiences that I would not have received otherwise,” Lockwood said.

“I can’t thank our seniors enough. They’ve done an incredible job getting this team ready and making a positive cultural change. They’ve been great leaders and have put their heart and souls into this. The biggest disappointment for our players and coaches is that we didn’t get to play them into a championship game. They’ve left a legacy that will pay dividends for our program for years to come,” head coach Kathy Brawn said.

Contact Lauren Hyland at [email protected].