The women’s soccer team entered its match on Sept. 1 at Syracuse University intending to maintain its undefeated record. The Bison improved to 4-0-1 on the season after taking a victory over Syracuse and ending in a stalemate to Rider on Sept. 4.

Despite being out-shot during the first half of the game against Syracuse, the Bison entered halftime maintaining a scoreless tie. The Orange and Blue rebounded with a strong second-half, scoring two goals within a four-minute span to secure the win. Goals were scored by Kendall Ham ’18 in the 68th minute and Maddie Dano ’19 in the 72nd minute. Dano’s goal was unassisted as she angled the ball in from one of six Bison corner kicks of the half.

Syracuse cut the deficit just a minute later, but the Orange and Blue held on for the victory, improving their record to 4-0-0 on the season. Keeper Jessica Ratner ’17 recorded five saves in the 2-1 win. It was the team’s first ever win against Syracuse.

To close out the week, the women played a home game against Rider University. Rider opened the scoring in the 15th minute. The Bison rebounded with a strong end to the first half, complete with 10 shots and five corner kicks, but couldn’t land the ball in the back of the net to even the score.

The Orange and Blue got on the board in the second half with a goal from Ham in the 50th minute on a beautiful through ball from captain Alexis Gannon ’17. Jackie Ham ’18 tallied an assist on her sister’s third goal of the season.

With 10 minutes remaining, Ratner made a diving save off a free kick just outside the penalty area to maintain the tie, and a close Rider shot went just wide with only three minutes remaining. With 30 seconds left in regulation, the Bison won a corner kick but couldn’t put the header away.

Despite the Bison out-shooting Rider 23-9 and only conceding one corner kick in regulation time, the game entered overtime after a 1-1 tie.

After 20 hard-fought minutes of overtime, neither team could score, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw. The Bison’s record moves to 4-0-1 on the season, the best start in program history. The team’s next game is Sept. 9 at home against Mount St. Mary’s, where the Bison intend to increase their unbeaten streak at home to 11 games.