2008 Woodie Awards
Women's Soccer Ready For Playoffs
Conor Fitzgerald
Issue date: 11/5/04 Section: Sports
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The Colgate women's soccer team had a great weekend, clinching the Patriot League regular season title against Lafayette and then beating eighth-ranked Princeton.
The first place Raiders squared off against last place Lafayette on Friday night knowing that a victory would guarantee them home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Senior co-captain Kyle Koch said the team knew "we had to beat Lafayette. For the first time our fate was totally in our hands."
After dropping their last two games, the Raiders wasted no time in returning to form. Eighteen minutes into the match, sophomore Jackie Burch blasted a free kick from 40 yards out to the head of junior Carolyn Warhaftig, who found the back of the net. With time winding down in the half the Raider's struck again when senior co-captain Ali Bernardini beat Lafayette keeper Amy Kalista for her third goal of the season to put the Raiders up 2-0 at the half. With the team up 2-0 and Colgate's defense shutting down the Leopards, the Raiders were 45 minutes away for their first regular season title since 2000.
The Raiders put the game out of reach 16 minutes into the second half with a goal by first-year Franny Iacuzzi off of an assist by junior Kelly Kuss. The goal gave Iacuzzi her 33rd point, and the assist was Kuss' 12th of the season, the highest single-season total for a Raider player. The Raider offense proved too much for Lafayette as the Colgate out-shot the Leopards, 16-5. The defense also shut down the Leopard, as it recorded the team's sixth shutout of the year and fifth at home. With the win, the Raiders clinched home field advantage and regained their momentum for their non-league showdown against Princeton.
"After dominating Friday's match, the team came out confident on Sunday against Princeton," Bernardini said.
Eighth-ranked Princeton came into the match as heavy favorites, riding a 10-game winning streak and having already clinched the Ivy League title by steamrolling Cornell, 7-0. However, the visitors were facing a very good Raider team on its senior night, and Colgate was not going to be denied.
The first place Raiders squared off against last place Lafayette on Friday night knowing that a victory would guarantee them home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Senior co-captain Kyle Koch said the team knew "we had to beat Lafayette. For the first time our fate was totally in our hands."
After dropping their last two games, the Raiders wasted no time in returning to form. Eighteen minutes into the match, sophomore Jackie Burch blasted a free kick from 40 yards out to the head of junior Carolyn Warhaftig, who found the back of the net. With time winding down in the half the Raider's struck again when senior co-captain Ali Bernardini beat Lafayette keeper Amy Kalista for her third goal of the season to put the Raiders up 2-0 at the half. With the team up 2-0 and Colgate's defense shutting down the Leopards, the Raiders were 45 minutes away for their first regular season title since 2000.
The Raiders put the game out of reach 16 minutes into the second half with a goal by first-year Franny Iacuzzi off of an assist by junior Kelly Kuss. The goal gave Iacuzzi her 33rd point, and the assist was Kuss' 12th of the season, the highest single-season total for a Raider player. The Raider offense proved too much for Lafayette as the Colgate out-shot the Leopards, 16-5. The defense also shut down the Leopard, as it recorded the team's sixth shutout of the year and fifth at home. With the win, the Raiders clinched home field advantage and regained their momentum for their non-league showdown against Princeton.
"After dominating Friday's match, the team came out confident on Sunday against Princeton," Bernardini said.
Eighth-ranked Princeton came into the match as heavy favorites, riding a 10-game winning streak and having already clinched the Ivy League title by steamrolling Cornell, 7-0. However, the visitors were facing a very good Raider team on its senior night, and Colgate was not going to be denied.