After opening the season with three straight wins, the Colgate women’s soccer team came up just short on Sunday, losing 1-0 to Syracuse at SU Stadium.

The game moved at a rigorous pace for the majority of the time before the Raiders seemed to run out of steam. Orange first-year Stephanie Skilton knocked in the game’s only goal in the 62nd minute that would prove to be the winner for Syracuse (3-1).

First-years Sarah Coy and Emily Pullen each attempted a shot on goal, while junior Jenna Raepple added another for Colgate (3-1). The Orange outshot the Raiders by seven, although ‘Gate did earn four corner kicks to its opponent’s three. 

For both sides, however, the name of the game was defense. Raepple’s shot came after she stripped the ball from her defender in the ninth minute, but Syracuse senior goalkeeper Brittany Anghel dove to stop the shot on target. Anghel’s shutout was the 20th of her career to go along with her 24th win. She is now tied for the school lead in both categories all-time.

Later, in the 15th minute, Orange junior midfielder Alexis Koval nearly put her side ahead until Colgate junior defender Chelsea Roche knocked the ball out from under her feet with a well-timed slide. Even though sophomore goalkeeper Erin Cummings notched just one save over the course of the match, her defenders in front blocked seven shots.

Colgate did manage three of their corner kicks just before halftime, but the Orange defense held, and the teams went into halftime with the score 0-0. ‘Gate and Syracuse came out strong in the second half, but the Orange broke through with a strong pass into a crowded box in the 62nd minute. The pass bounced off a few Colgate players before finding the foot of Skilton, who calmly planted the ball in the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

The Raiders fought hard to equalize before the 71st minute when Colgate was awarded a free kick on the right side of the field. Junior midfielder Caroline Brawner’s kick flew through to the backside of the box but the Raiders’ attempt on goal sailed just over the bar.

With just one minute to play, Colgate turned up the intensity one final time. First, Coy saw an opening on net. Brawner played a free kick into sophomore Jenna Panepinto who sent the ball over the Orange back line. Coy used her speed, reaching the ball right at the touchline and hit a one-timer towards goal. Unfortunately, it smashed against the side netting and the opportunity was lost.

The Raiders look to regroup before this Sunday’s contest against Cornell in Ithaca at 1 p.m.

Contact Jordan Plaut at [email protected].