As the regular season draws to an end, the Colgate women’s soccer team can look forward to being one of the top seeds in the upcoming Patriot League tournament, despite a week that saw the team pick up just one point in its two games. The Raiders came into the week riding high with a 10-game undefeated streak that included a win over Bucknell University, who was second in the Patriot League at the time, and Atlantic Coast Conference powerhouse Syracuse University. In order to claim at least a share of the Patriot League regular season title and a chance for the top seed in the league tournament, the Raiders needed a win over Holy Cross and a tie with Navy. The Raiders failed to do either. 

The disappointing week started with a match against Patriot League foe Holy Cross  in Worcester. The Raiders were able to apply early pressure testing Holy Cross Crusaders keeper Caroline Cashion multiple times in the opening 15 minutes before the Crusaders were able to get a chance of their own that sophomore keeper Kelly Chiavaro was able to knock over the crossbar. The Raiders were able to regain momentum and sophomore Abby Sotomayor was able to slip a shot passed Cashion as time wound down in the first half, but the ball went of crossbar to end the half scoreless. 

The Raiders yet again came out hot in the second half’s opening minutes, as first-year Ellis Miller was able to test the Crusader defense multiple times, forcing Cashion to make two saves. The Raiders kept up the pressure for the next 10 minutes but were unable to score. The Crusaders were able to create multiple late opportunities of their own, but also had trouble putting the ball into the goal before time ran out sending the game to overtime. In the first extra period, the teams traded shots that went wide of the goal while neither was able to find room for another opportunity before the final whistle ended the game in a draw.

The Raiders returned to home on Saturday night to take on top-Patriot League team Navy, needing a win to remain in contention for the regular season Patriot League crown. The Navy Midshipmen (Mids) were able to get on the board early as Ash Fairow capitalized on a Raider defensive miscommunication, placing Navy on the board in the tenth minute. The Raiders were able to even the score 15 minutes later when they were awarded a free kick 25 yards out. Miller sent a howler over the Mids’ back line and across the goal face into the back corner of the net to even the score at 1-1. The Mids continued to apply pressure throughout the remainder of the first half, and forced Chiavaro to stay active in front of net. They were finally able to break through again in the 43rd-minute as Alex Jackson headed a corner kick into the back of the net to give Navy a lead heading into the half. In the second half, Colgate was able to possess the ball and create multiple opportunities with freshman Syd Maxson putting multiple crosses into the box, but was unable to score as Navy’s defense held on for the 2-1 win.

The Raiders finish the regular season on October 28 at Boston University where they need a win or draw to host a quarterfinal match in the Patriot League tournament. 

Contact Gideon Hamot at [email protected].