This weekend, the Raiders opened their Patriot League conference play on Saturday when they took on the Lafayette Leopards in Easton, Pennsylvania. The Raiders extended their winning streak, returning from

Lafayette with a 2-0 win. 

The Leopards hung with the Raiders for much of the game, taking a scoreless game into the second half, but that changed when first-year midfielder Eliza Doll struck for her second goal in as many games. Doll notched her second career goal about 13 minutes into the second half, stunning the Leopards goalkeeper with a rocket that made it to the corner of the net. 

It didn’t take long for junior forward Jenna Raepple to extend the lead and ice the game for the Raiders, as she struck for her second goal this season a mere 14 minutes after Doll. 

Fellow junior midfielder Lexi Panepinto assisted Raepple’s goal, her second assist on the night. Raepple netted her goal from a couple yards inside the 18-yard box, receiving the pass from Panepinto who had successfully maneuvered through two

Leopard defenders. 

The Raiders keep on rolling, and it really is no surprise with sophomore goalkeeper Brenna Mason playing out of her mind. Mason has recorded clean sheets in the past four games, moving her season total to a very

impressive six shutouts. 

“We have been working really hard and taking one game at a time,” junior

midfielder Taryn Tomczyk said of the team’s recent success. “The whole team is on the same page working towards a Patriot

League championship.” 

This total focus has been obvious ever since the Raiders dropped their only game of the season, and one can really see the team’s cohesion as they dominate from end to end. 

Earlier in the season, a few defenders told me that one of things they needed to focus on was meshing the possession between the defense and the offense. So far, the Raiders have certainly committed themselves to filling these gaps and making the whole team work as one unit. 

 “We win and we lose with all 29 players. This year the team dynamics are really great.” junior defender Lauren D’Amico said about the team’s cohesiveness, something that has kept the Raiders competitive in what has been a difficult start to the season against tough opponents. 

The Raiders face their next Patriot League test this coming Saturday when they head to Baltimore to take on Loyola. The Greyhounds tied Holy Cross this past Saturday in a double-overtime scoreless match. 

The Raiders hope to put some distance between themselves and the rest this week in the Patriot League standings if they’re able to secure a win. As of now, Colgate is standing on top, a formidable 6-1-1, for best in the Patriot League. Additionally, the Raiders received votes in the  NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division I Women’s

National Poll.