The women’s soccer team had a successful week, with the Yellowjackets defeating Case Western Reserve University and Carnegie Mellon on University Friday and Sunday, respectively.
The CWRU game was stagnant during the first half, with neither team scoring. “We started the game slowly,” coach Terry Gurnett said. UR fell behind as the opponents scored late in the first half, and had to alter the game plan to overtake the CWRU Spartans.
“We had an attitude adjustment at halftime and came out to battle hard in the second,” Gurnett said. Not only did UR make a full circle defensively, but offensively as well. Karen Forsythe, a sophomore and midfielder for the team, brought UR to the same level as CWRU with her goal in the second half. “She hit a great ball from 25 yards out, and tucked that away upstairs,” Gurnett said. Junior forward Alison Collins assisted Forsythe with the goal.
Two minutes later, Collins broke through and took a shot that was saved by the other team, leaving the score tied at 1-1. However, freshman midfielder Kristin Leskow “came in and did a sliding shot to kick it in,” according to Gurnett, to put the Yellowjackets ahead 2-1.
UR secured a third goal by Collins, as she stole the ball from backfield and pulled forward to put the women on top 3-1. Freshman goalie, Adrian Hulchanski, along with a strong Yellowjacket defense secured the victory.
The win over the Spartans gave UR its first victory in the University Athletic Association conference. The win over Case was followed up with success against Carnegie Mellon. Five minutes into the game against the CMU Tartans, Forsythe took the initiative to dominate with her goal. “Karen drove a shot for 45 yards and just kicked it in and nailed it,” Gurnett said. This was the only goal throughout the entire the game.
The Yellowjackets, however, had to defend their lead as the clock continued the rest of the game. “Carnegie Mellon was a quality team,” Gurnett said. “In the first half, we did a nice job possessing and having a hold on the ball. Carnegie Mellon came at us hard in the second half, and we had to fight for our lead.”
To keep their lead, the Yellowjackets altered their alignment so there were three defenders, five midfielders and two attackers. “We wanted to concentrate our midfielders because they are very strong in the middle of the field, and we wanted to counter that,” Gurnett explained.
Gurnett named sophomore Pietrina Micoli, junior Jenica Schmidt and senior Amy Kelmenson, as backers for the Yellowjackets, which were key to the UR victory. Junior Sarah Malecki was in goal to record the shutout victory for the Yellowjackets.
The win over the Tartans was the second of the weekend for UR. It also improved their record in the UAA to 2-2, and 10-2 overall.
The women are currently ranked 25 in Div. III, and their victory over Ithaca College Wednesday night has moved the women to 11-2 on the season.
The women will next face William Smith on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Fauver Stadium.
Additional reporting by Allen Fitzsimmons
Josephson can be reached at ejosephson@campustimes.org.
