Colgate University women’s soccer heads into Patriot League play coming off of a rough 2-9-2 start to the season (1-7-1 in out-of-conference play). Despite the rocky start, the team remains positive about their performance against out-of-conference opponents.
Senior midfielder/defender Sara Anelli spoke highly of her team and their effort so far this season.
“The culture of the team this year has been really focused on winning the moment and taking things step-by-step, practice-by-practice and game-by-game. This year our strength has really been in the depth of our team and the ability to make subs throughout the game and not have the level drop off. Looking ahead I’m certainly excited for our senior day this weekend but also for the many winning opportunities ahead,” Anelli said.
First-year defender Hanao Nakamoto feels that the difficult matchups have provided the Raiders with practice.
“I think our tough non-conference schedule has allowed us to test our limits,” Nakamoto said, attesting to the teams growth this season.
Junior forward Paige Foa agreed with this sentiment regarding the positives of non-conference play.
“Playing a tough non-conference schedule has helped us learn and grow so much […]. [We] had to learn how to deal [with] and manage playing opponents that put us under pressure,” Foa said.
The team has definitely been tested by their non-conference schedule, having already played two Pac-12 teams: the University of Denver and the University of Colorado Boulder (ranked 20th in the nation at the time the teams clashed.) And, despite the rankings gap with Boulder, Colgate managed to hold on close in a tight 2-1 loss that could have easily gone the other way.
The team has had some offensive struggles, having been unable to find the back of the net in eight of the games they’ve played. Defense, however, has proved to be a strong suit, with the team allowing an average of only 1.75 goals per game — a testament to their ability to shut opponents out when playing on their own defensive third.
The team’s trip out west to play Boulder was especially enjoyable for Foa, who is a Colorado native herself.
“For me, this trip was especially amazing. We were able to go to my house for dinner and see some of my favorite parts of Colorado,” Foa said. “The experience was really important for us in that it was great team bonding while simultaneously preparing us for [Patriot] League [play].”
Nakamoto also spoke positively on the trip out West.
“The Colorado trip was a really great experience for us,” Nakamoto said. “It really allowed us to connect as a team. We also played some really strong teams […] which allowed us to learn a lot about our strengths and weaknesses when playing.”
The team certainly seemed invigorated after the trip, as in their next three games, which also were the opening three Patriot League games against three of last year’s top four teams – Bucknell, Navy and Boston College – they went 1-1-1 with an aggregate score of 2-2.
Despite the rough start to the season, both Foa and Nakamoto had nothing but praise for the environment around the team at present.
“As a first-year, I was nervous coming into [the season], but everyone is super welcoming and kind. I wouldn’t want to be playing with any other group of girls,” Nakamoto said. “Although we’ve faced some hardships when it comes to getting the results we want, our team’s spirits are still high […]. It helps that our captains are super motivating and uplifting. We feed off of their energy to create an environment where we play for one another no matter what happens.”
Foa spoke more on the team’s attitudes towards recent results.
“This is a team that is hungry. We haven’t been putting up the results we know we are capable of and we are using that to fuel us. Practices these last few weeks have been at an extremely high level, and I know we have the ability and personnel to go far this season,” Foa described.
With only six seniors on the current squad, most of the team will likely be returning for next season. The positive team environment can only be a good thing for the future, but the team is very much focused on the here and now.
Foa emphasized this notion of focusing on the present.
“We are always looking to the next training session in preparation for the next game and not beyond that,” Foa said.
Nakamoto agreed that the future isn’t a concern for the Raiders.
“There hasn’t been much talk about the future of our team. I think my and the team’s main focus right now is the present and what we want to make of our team this year. Our coaches really emphasize living in the moment and not thinking about the past or the future,” Nakamoto said.
Head Coach Lyndse Hokanson has been with the team since the 2020-2021 season and Colgate has seen success in all three of her years, staying around a .500 conference record with young teams. Clearly something is working in the coaching staff, and hopefully this year can be yet another building block towards a bright future for the Raiders.
Nakamoto encouraged more Colgate students and faculty to come out to the games.
“The energy that is brought in numbers helps a lot and I know my teammates feel the same way. We’re a group of girls who are all working towards the same goal of winning the [Patriot] League and we have a lot of potential to do exactly that. We would love to share this experience with the entire Colgate community,” Nakamoto said.
Foa also called on the fans and community to show up for Senior Day on Saturday, Oct. 7.
“We have the most special group of seniors that have dedicated so much to this program and deserve the best day,” Foa said.
The team is aiming high as conference play gets into full swing, and, with the rapidly growing support of Raider fans behind them, the future looks bright for Colgate women’s soccer.
