This past weekend, the Colgate wom­en’s soccer team took the field for the final time this season. The Raiders traveled to West Point, NY, where they took on the Army Black Knights in the first semifinal game of the Patriot League tournament. The squad battled hard throughout regu­lation, but unfortunately was defeated by a score of 1-0 after an Army goal was scored early in overtime.

The first half saw fairly even play, with each team playing stin­gy defense and limiting its opponent to less-than-threatening opportunities.

Army arguably had the edge in the first half but failed to capitalize on several op­portunities, thanks in part to fantastic goalkeeping by sophomore Ashley Walsh. Walsh made four saves over the course of the game, and kept the potent Army of­fense at bay throughout all of regulation. Colgate’s usually airtight defense held strong throughout the half, disrupting the Black Knights’ relentless attack.

The Raiders did not have many oppor­tunities in the first half, but in the second they swung momentum their way, turning the tables on Army. That said, the Black Knights’ defense stood just as strong as the Raiders’, and Army was able to thwart any Colgate opportunities.

The Raiders doubled their shot total from the first half, firing off eight shots in the second period. Colgate also struggled with fouls, committing a total of 15 fouls over the course of the game, including three yellow cards in the second half alone.

Despite their best efforts to net a goal, however, the Raiders were unable to end the battle in 90 minutes, forcing the game into overtime.

In the third minute of the extra ses­sion, the Black Knights’ Carlie Turnnidge ripped a shot from about 20 yards out, placing it perfectly in the top left corner of the net.

The crippling shot boosted Army forward into the championship game, and sent Colgate packing in its final competition of the season.

“We had a number of opportunities to put the game away in the second half but weren’t able to capitalize on those opportunities,” senior co-captain Calista Victor said. “I think the team will really focus on working to finish in the final third.”

The Raiders finished the season with a relatively mediocre 6-12-1 mark (3-3-1 in-conference), but Victor pointed out the in-season development of the squad.

“Our team progressed a lot over the course of the season,” Victor said. “Our ball movement improved, our move­ment off the ball improved and our de­fense at the end of the season was signif­icantly better than it was at the start of the season.”

The team closes the season with even more motivation to work hard in the offseason in hopes of qualifying for the Patriot League tournament for a third consecutive time next year.