By Andrew Arnao

Writer

The women’s soccer team won two crucial home games against Patriot League rivals Lehigh and Lafayette last weekend. Midfielder Evelyn Nicinski ’15 scored the winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Lehigh, while forward Megan DeGennaro ’12 scored the golden goal in overtime to beat Lafayette 2-1. 

On Friday, Nicinski scored her goal 14 minutes into the game against defending Patriot League champion Lehigh, shooting on goal from the box after a nice pass from DeGennaro. That turned out to be all the Bison would get, though they kept up the pressure and outshot Lehigh 19-13. Keeper Sandita McDermott ’13 made several brilliant saves, compiling eight total for the game.

“We are really starting to come together as a powerful team,” Cassie Denger ’15 said. “Our combinations in the attacking third are on for us right now and our defense is a brick wall. We are finding the open player and getting them the ball while our whole team gets into the attack.”

Against Lafayette on Sunday, the offense shifted back and forth between the Bison and the Leopards. Lafayette eventually got on the board first with a goal 24 minutes in, but that was all they would get as McDermott recorded nine saves. The Bison equalized the score 20 seconds into the second half on a shot by Kayla Yee ’13, with the assist going to Courtney Nelson ’15.

From that point on, the Bison offense had control, outshooting Lafayette 10-2 during the second half. The Bison were unable to go ahead, and the game went into sudden-death overtime. Lafayette had a chance for a goal several minutes in but missed on a header. The Orange and the Blue immediately retaliated, with Tara Cort ’12 passing the ball to DeGennaro for the breakaway. DeGennaro managed to slip the ball past the Lafayette goalie for the game-winner.

“We had a really slow start in league,” DeGennaro said, “but we are all so proud of each other for pulling through this weekend against Lehigh and Lafayette when it was absolutely necessary.”

With the two victories, the Bison, now 3-3-0 in the Patriot League have revived their chances of making the Patriot League tournament. The Orange and the Blue play Navy tomorrow at noon in a vital home game, which also happens to be Senior Day, and will need a win to assure their chances of qualifying.

“We are playing the best soccer I have seen us play this year and we all believe that we can make it to the tournament,” Yee said. “Navy [this] weekend is another must win but having it in our hands to make the tournament is a great opportunity.”