This post was written by Hatchet staff writer Marty Fenn.
Whenever a team gets a big win over a tough opponent, the hope is that they can keep that momentum rolling into the next game to avoid a letdown.
The Colonials were able to do just that Thursday evening at home, following their triumph 1-0 over nationally ranked Arkansas with a 3-0 victory over the Delaware Blue Hens.
Though GW (6-0-0) wasn’t at its sharpest, the Colonials’ control of the midfield and their ability to finish quality chances made all the difference.
Senior forward MacKenzie Cowley scored in her sixth straight game, and became one of just three players in the country to already have four game-winning goals.
Although the Colonials struck first, it was Delaware (1-6-0) who was getting the best chances early in the game. Luckily for GW, Miranda Horn was in goal.
Horn, a redshirt junior, was solid throughout the game – making four saves to keep the Blue Hens off the score sheet. Perhaps her best effort came about 14 minutes into the first half, when she managed to tip the ball over the crossbar on a laser shot from outside the box.
“Those are actually my favorite kind of saves, because I’m a taller keeper and it’s easier for me to get up high,” Horn said. “I usually try to get my feet behind [the ball] and catch it, but that was a really nice shot, so I just had to get my fingers to it.”
While Horn was keeping the Colonials in the game, Cowley took advantage of a strange opportunity in the 20th minute.
On a Delaware goal kick, redshirt junior midfielder Ivana Szwejkowski raised up to power a header forward. The ball ran out past everyone, and Cowley was on it in a flash. She controlled the ball deftly in the box, chipping the ball over the Delaware keeper and giving the Colonials the lead for good.
GW really got things going in the second half, dominating possession and finding space to operate in the midfield.
“I think we had some of those opportunities in the first half and we missed them, but I’m proud that we made that adjustment,” head coach Sarah Barnes said. “The wide players did a good job of spacing and finding runners, and I think we were just more assertive.”
Sophomore forward Brittany Cooper was particularly dominant in the second half, using her body and strength well to shield off defenders and hold the ball. Cooper was the catalyst of the second goal in the 62nd minute, executing a skillful nutmeg turn by the corner flag to evade two Blue Hens defenders before sending a cross to the back post.
Freshman midfielder Olivia Di Cristofaro sprinted down the wing and towards the post, volleying the ball into the open net for her first career goal.
“It feels great,” Di Cristofaro said about getting her first score. “I feel like things are working out and the hard work is paying off. I never really scored that much in club, so it’s a great feeling.”
Senior defender Kate Elson put the finishing touch on the game with a goal in the 86th minute, scoring from a near impossible angle by the corner flag.
The win means the Colonials continue their unbeaten streak, and also continue to generate more national buzz. Following the Arkansas win, GW received 17 votes in the NSCAA Coaches Poll.
“I think for the team… they put in a tremendous amount of work,” Barnes said. “Especially for the seniors, they’ve put so much into the program in the last four years. Those guys came here when we weren’t very good, so for them to be at this point and see us getting recognition, it’s great.”
The Colonials will hit the road to take on Liberty on Sunday in Lynchburg, VA. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m.
