After suffering three straight losses, the GW women’s soccer team held their Atlantic 10 opponents scoreless in two games over the weekend, defeating both St. Bonaventure and Duquesne 1-0.
On Sunday, during the team’s last home game of the season, the Colonials (6-7-4, 3-4-2 A-10) honored seniors Brittany Eger, Liz Hillin, Dara Rosen, Misa Eiritz and Emily Gower in a pregame ceremony, setting the stage for the seniors to have a big impact on the game.
Seven minutes into the second half, Eger did just that.
After playing a scoreless first half, the Colonials came out and applied high pressure on offense against the Dukes. Quick, smart passing helped GW keep the ball in Duquesne’s zone. Eiritz passed the ball into the corner where sophomore Sierra Smidinger fired it into the box. Eger headed into the net over goalkeeper Gabby Morrin to score the game’s only goal.
Eger said scoring on Senior Day was an added bonus.
“It’s our last game on our own field so it definitely adds momentum,” she said. “It felt great. I scored in the beginning of the season and haven’t really scored towards the middle so it felt great to get one on Senior Day.”
Vogel said the seniors have a huge impact on the team, as leaders both on and off the field.
“Quite frankly, they make it,” she said. “This team is 26 players deep, that is for sure, but those five seniors have been so committed to this team. There’s no egos in that class. They’re really a selfless group of leaders [who] care very much about the success of this team.”
In Friday’s match against St. Bonaventure, the Colonials wasted no time in turning the game in their favor.
Less than six minutes into the game, GW had the ball in the offensive end. Junior Kristen Slack beat out the Bonnies’ defenders and saved the ball from going out at the end line. Slack crossed it into the box where Smidinger netted the ball into the open corner past Bonnies goalkeeper Nicole Markert, giving the Colonials an advantage they would eventually turn into a victory.
Smidinger said scoring early adds intensity to the game for the team.
“It definitely gives us a boost. We come out with more intensity and high pressure. Everyone gets excited,” she said.
GW continued to apply pressure throughout the game, keeping the ball in St. Bonaventure’s zone. On defense, the Colonials stayed strong, led by sophomore goalkeeper Lindsey Rowe.
Vogel said she thought her team fought hard for the win.
“They were awesome today,” she said. “Division I college soccer is all about battling. The girls did it. They brought it today. They battled and earned this victory.”
GW finishes the regular season on the road next weekend. On Friday, the Colonials will take on Massachusetts, followed by their final regular season game against Rhode Island on Sunday.
Eger said she feels optimistic that the team is not done yet.
“I think we have a lot of momentum going into our last weekend and we still have a chance to make the [A-10] tournament,” she said. “I feel good about where we are right now.”
