Aaron Schaffer / Staff Photographer
For a third straight match, the women’s soccer team dueled an able University Athletic Association (UAA) rival to a 2-1 score at Fauver Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 3. Unfortunately, for a third straight match, the Yellowjackets were on the losing end, this time at the hands of the Case Western Reserve University Spartans. The season-ending defeat drops the Yellowjackets to 3-13-1 for the season and concludes the first losing season in over 10 years for one of the University’s most successful teams in the last decade.
The UR offense wasted no time in applying pressure. Senior forward Heather Alico made a cross in the first minute to senior defender Kristina Diaz in the middle of the box. Diaz’s shot was blocked by Case Western’s goalie Megan Romelfanger, however, eliminating the threat.
Later, the Spartans’ Kate Dolansky sparked a response on the visitors’ part, as she trapped a ball that was rebounded off the hands of the Yellowjackets’ senior goalie Bridget Lang. Dolansky reared and fired away, but senior defender Alaina Wayland was there to snuff the chance.
After a scoreless first half, Alico broke away from the Spartans’ defense eight minutes into the second half and sprinted down the right side of the field. She fired, though her shot was deflected off the goal post. Luckily for sophomore forward Hayley Engel and the rest of the ’Jackets, the ball rebounded right into the box, where Engel trapped and crushed it into the net for her second goal of the season.
The Spartans returned the favor just minutes later when Case Western forward Christine Straka pushed the ball into the lower left corner of the net, beyond Lang’s reach. Seven minutes later, the visitors took the lead and eventually the game, with a bending shot that just barely alluded Lang. The Spartans (8-6-4) claimed their second UAA victory, while the ’Jackets finished their season with no wins in the always-competitive conference.
Despite their less-than-stellar record, the ’Jackets still put up a fight this season. The yellow and blue were outscored by more than one goal only twice throughout the season — an impressive feat considering they squared off against eight of the top 25 teams in the current national rankings. Lang and the UR defense also allowed more than one goal only twice. This freshman and sophomore-heavy squad looks to improve the season record in years to come.
Bernstein is a member of the class of 2014.
