Lady Eagles defend the nest at homecoming

by ALEXA DELACONCEPCION

Staff Writer

Last Saturday, the University of Mary Washington’s women’s soccer team took down Franklin and Marshall College in a 2–0 shutout, bringing their record to 9–4–3. This marks the third shutout in a row for the team. 

“It’s been a long time coming for our program and a lot of work to get us to that point,” Head Coach Scott Gerseny said. “We’ve been so close in a lot of these [games]. To do it in front of our home crowd at homecoming is just really special.”

The game started with an early penalty granted to UMW in the sixth minute. With this opportunity, Eliza Franklin, a senior biomedical science major, put the ball away with ease, giving the Lady Eagles an early 1–0 lead. 

“I’ve taken one or two this season and been able to get a goal for the team,” Franklin said. “I was just hoping to get it in, and it went in.”

Gerseny said this early goal was a game-changer that contributed to the tone of the rest of the game. 

“When you get up early, you change the whole game for not only your team, knowing that they have a really good chance to win the game, but the other team is now scrambling and making changes to try and catch up,” he said.

Following halftime, UMW continued to pressure Franklin and Marshall’s players and take shots on goal. While a few of the shots went wide, three forced F&M’s goalkeeper to make a save.

The momentum of the game would take a turn in the 61st minute when a foul was called against UMW. After the kick was taken from just outside of the box, it curved into the top corner of the net. After a signal from the linesman, the goal was called off for offsides.

UMW would go on to strike again with a second goal by junior business administration major Ellen Shine in the 88th minute. This goal was assisted by Franklin, who ended her day with one goal and one assist.

Shine explained how she saw the gap in the opposing team’s disorganized back line and quickly yelled for Franklin to play her through. She said she felt pressured not to mess up one-on-one with the goalie, seeing the large crowd of homecoming tailgaters watching from behind the goal.

“I was thinking, ‘don’t mess this up,’” she said. “I honestly just hit it with my toe, and just hoped for the best.”

Physicality was something that Gerseny said he was most proud of. Although the women on UMW’s soccer team like to play what he refers to as, “a little bit better soccer,” the nature of Saturday’s match called for a change.

“It was a really kind of choppy soccer game with a lot of fouls and traditionally, we haven’t always been the most physical team,” he said. “Our girls really stepped up to match the physicality and intensity of it, and then find ways to put the ball in the back of the net.”

The Eagles’ next match is on Nov. 2 against Johns Hopkins University on the road.

“We have a big game coming up this week and the following week, and we’re just focused on winning the next one and keeping our momentum going forward,” Franklin said about the team’s mentality going into the next game.