BATTLE TESTED: Colgate women’s soccer feels well prepared for the upcoming conference game after a tough preparation against nationally ranked opponents.
Colgate University women’s soccer is heading into Patriot League play after a rough 2-9-2 start to the season (1-7-1 in non-conference play). Despite a rough start, the team remains positive about its performance against non-conference opponents.
Senior midfielder/defender Sara Anelli praised her team and its efforts so far this season.
“The team culture this year has really been about winning and taking things step by step, practice by practice and game by game. This year, our strength really lies in the depth of our team and the ability to make substitutions throughout the match without losing level. Looking ahead, I’m certainly excited about our senior day this weekend, but also the many opportunities to win ahead,” Anelli said.
Freshman defenseman Hanao Nakamoto believes the tough matchups allowed the Raiders to practice.
“I think our tough non-conference schedule allowed us to test our limits,” Nakamoto said, attesting to the team’s growth this season.
Junior forward Paige Foa agreed with that sentiment regarding the positives of non-conference play.
“Playing a tough non-conference schedule helped us learn and grow tremendously (…). (We) had to learn to deal with and deal with opponents who put us under pressure,” Foa said.
The team has definitely been tested by its non-conference schedule, having already faced two Pac-12 teams: the University of Denver and the University of Colorado Boulder (ranked 20th in the nation at the time the teams met). faced.) And, despite the seeding gap with Boulder, Colgate managed to hold on in a close 2-1 loss that could have easily gone the other way.
The team struggled offensively, failing to find the back of the net in eight of the matches they played. Defense, however, has proven to be a strong point, with the team averaging just 1.75 goals per game – a testament to their ability to shut out opponents when playing in their own defensive third.
The team’s trip out west to play in Boulder was especially enjoyable for Foa, who is a Colorado native herself.
“For me, this trip was particularly incredible. We were able to go to my house for dinner and see some of my favorite parts of Colorado,” Foa said. “The experience was really important for us in that it created a great team bond while simultaneously preparing us for (Patriot) League (play).”
Nakamoto also spoke positively about his trip to the West.
“The trip to Colorado was a really great experience for us,” Nakamoto said. “It really allowed us to bond as a team. We also faced very strong teams (…) which allowed us to learn a lot about our strengths and weaknesses when we play.
The team certainly seemed reinvigorated after the trip, as in their next three games, which were also the first three Patriot League games against three of last year’s top four teams – Bucknell, Navy and Boston College – they went 1-1-1 with an overall score of 2-2.
Despite a difficult start to the season, Foa and Nakamoto have nothing but praise for the team’s current environment.
“As a freshman, I was nervous at the start (of the season), but everyone is super welcoming and nice. I wouldn’t want to play with another group of girls,” Nakamoto said. “Even if we encountered some difficulties in obtaining the desired results, the morale of our team is still good (…). It helps that our captains are super motivating and uplifting. We feed off their energy to create an environment where we play for each other, no matter what.
Foa spoke more about the team’s attitude towards recent results.
“It’s a hungry team. We haven’t gotten the results we know we’re capable of and we’re using that to fuel us. The training over the last few weeks has been of an extremely high standard, and I know we have the capacity and the personnel to go far this season,” described Foa.
With only six seniors on the current team, most of the team will likely return next season. The team’s positive environment can only be a good thing going forward, but the team is very focused on the here and now.
Foa emphasized this notion of focusing on the present.
“We always look towards the next training session in preparation for the next match and not beyond,” Foa said.
Nakamoto agreed that the future is not a concern for the Raiders.
“We haven’t talked much about the future of our team. I think the main focus for me and the team right now is on the present and what we want to do with our team this year. Our coaches really emphasize living in the moment and not thinking about the past or the future,” Nakamoto said.
Head coach Lyndse Hokanson has been with the team since the 2020-2021 season and Colgate has seen success in her three years, staying around a .500 conference record with young teams. Clearly, something is working within the coaching staff, and hopefully this year can be another building block toward a bright future for the Raiders.
Nakamoto encouraged more Colgate students and faculty to participate in the games.
“The energy brought by numbers helps a lot and I know my teammates feel the same way. We are a group of girls all working towards the same goal: winning the League (Patriot) and we have a lot of potential to achieve it. We would love to share this experience with the entire Colgate community,” Nakamoto said.
Foa also called on fans and the community to come out for Senior Day on Saturday, October 7.
“We have the most special group of seniors who have dedicated so much to this program and deserve the best day,” Foa said.
The team is aiming high as conference play is in full swing, and with the rapidly growing support of Raider fans behind them, the future looks bright for Colgate women’s soccer.
