This weekend the Colgate Raiders women’s soccer team took part in the Homecoming Weekend festivities with a Patriot League matchup. The game proved to be a success for the team and for all involved in the festivities.

The team opened its Patriot League slate of games this weekend against the Lafayette College Leopards.  The Raiders’ 4-1 win sends a bold statement to the rest of the conference and is a testament to the team’s continued success and consistency after winning the Patriot League title

last season.

The Raider scoring barrage started in the early minutes as junior defender Chelsea Roche fired a free kick 45 yards out over Lafayette first-year goalkeeper Danielle Sedillo. The goal was Roche’s second of the year.

A couple of minutes later, the Raiders earned another free kick; junior midfielder captain Emily Manoogian took advantage of the opportunity and fired a 27-yard shot straight towards the box. The ball ricocheted off one of the Lafayette players and found its way in the goal extending Colgate’s lead to 2-0 in the first 19 minutes of the game.

Minutes before halftime, the Raiders earned another free kick. Roche strategically placed the ball in the box leading sophomore midfielder Jenna Panepinto to secure possession of it. She found senior captain Klara Jenkins and crossed the ball over to Jenkins who headed it into the net for a 3-0 Raider lead going into halftime.

Early in the second half, the Leopards came out strong and were determined to erase the heavy deficit.  Lafayette senior defender Avery Jackson saw an opportunity to score but couldn’t secure an accurate shot as the ball flew over the goal.

Panepinto came up with another huge play as she blocked an attempt by the Leopards to get on the board.  Later, Leopards junior forward Alyssa Finelli targeted the net and found a scoring opportunity that looked like a surefire goal but Panepinto heroically deflected the ball, protecting Colgate’s 3-0 lead.

Colgate found another scoring opportunity in the 61st minute as first-year midfielder Sarah Coy secured possession of the ball and maintained control despite running into a seemingly successful Lafayette attempt to gain possession of the ball. Coy maintained her composure and rocketed the ball into the net giving the Raiders a 4-0 lead.

The Leopards strategically found a scoring opportunity in the 75th minute as Lafayette first-year forward Kaelin King crossed the ball over to first-year midfielder Joanna Scotti who then sent the ball past the Raider defense making the score 4-1. Lafayette’s late-game goal, however,  was not enough as Colgate ran down the clock to end the game.

The win gives Colgate a confident start to the Patriot League competition coming up. The win is also a milestone win for Colgate head coach Kathy Brawn as it is her 100th Patriot League regular season-victory.

The Raiders, overcoming the rain to pick up the victory, will move on next week to play against new Patriot League opponent Loyola.

Contact Matthew Washuta at [email protected].