This past Thursday, the Colgate Women’s soccer team hosted Farleigh Dickinson University and topped the Knights 5-1. After the Raider’s big win against LSU last Sunday, the team knew that they could not let the victory cause them to take the next game too lightly.  

Senior defender and captain Emily Pullen said that in the practice leading up to the game against FDU, the team worked hard defensively and on finding multiple options when they had the ball.  

The Raider’s 5-1 victory proved that their hard work in practice paid off and that their focus has been unwavering.  

Right away Colgate took control of the game and within the first 15 minutes of play took three shots on goal.  In the 17th minute, senior forward Sarah Coy scored off of a centered ball sent from junior midfielder Eliza Doll. Coy says that she saw that the goalie was at her “near post,” so she slotted it far. 

“[The team has been working on] receiving the ball, then getting a service across the face of the goal and having players crash the goal to finish,” Coy said.

Colgate’s next goal came in the 21st minute and was executed almost

exactly as the first. Doll sent the ball to first-year forward Abby Sotomayor, who placed it far post. Minutes later Sotomayor scored again, this time in the upper right hand corner off of an assist from first-year midfielder Mara Cosentino.

Before the close of the first half, senior forward Caroline Parsons scored off a pass from Doll, giving Colgate a four-goal lead.  

FDU scored their lone goal of the game in the 66th minute off a corner kick. Although FDU totaled nine shots in the second half, compared to the three in the first half, the Colgate defense remained strong by not allowing any more FDU goals. The Raider’s secured their 5-1 victory in the 80th minute when sophomore defender Natalie Kozlowski added another to the scoreboard.  

Colgate’s strong start to the season is largely attributed to the team’s dynamic.  Senior forward and captain Sophi Lederer stated that the team had welcomed a great group of first-years.

“[They fit in] seamlessly, both socially and on the field,” Lederer said.

 Lederer also mentioned that the team has found a great balance between relaxation and intensity – they work

incredibly hard day after day, but they also enjoy the game and playing with one another. 

“[I’ve been] pleased with how the team’s chemistry has translated onto the field and lead to some amazing combinations of play and really good results,” Lederer said.  

The Raiders returned to the field again on September 4, falling to Providence 5-0. The Raiders failed to produce much offense, generating their first shot attempt in the 24th minute. On top of the stagnant offense, the Raider defense failed to maintain the backline as well as they did against LSU, relenting multiple through balls in the early going to challenge first-year keeper Kelly Chiavaro. The Raiders  will attempt to bring back the intensity on September 9 against Yale University on the road in New Haven, CT.