New goalie performs admirably, but it's not enough

The NYU women’s soccer team lost their first two games of the season this weekend at the Elizabethtown College Blue Jay Classic in Elizabethtown, Pa.

Embarking on an ambitious schedule that will see them play six NCAA tournament teams, the Violets, matched up against third-ranked The College of New Jersey, fell 4-0  on Saturday. On Sunday, NYU was able to score a single goal but it wasn’t enough as the Violets lost 2-1 to the tournament hosts, Elizabethtown College.


NYU vs. The College of New Jersey

Saturday’s game was notable for being the first college start for sophomore goalkeeper Alex Walters, who, along with fellow sophomore Rebekah Kramer, has been given the task of replacing graduated all-UAA goalkeeper Katie Barnes. Walters performed admirably, stopping 10 shots on goal, but NYU was simply overrun by TCNJ’s attack on a day that saw the Violets outshot 17-7. The Lions broke the deadlock 20 minutes into the match when Casey Caruso knocked in a cross from Jamie Kunkel. NYU looked for a quick response, but junior Lucy Dolly Caires’ rapid-fire shot was blocked by TCNJ keeper Katie Piotrowski.

The Lions added a second goal five minutes before halftime when Jillian Casey’s shot was deflected by Walters, who could only watch as the ball rolled over the goal line.

The second half saw more of the same from both teams, as NYU only managed one shot on goal, by senior forward Sarah Pillemer in the 69th minute. TCNJ truly put the game out of reach in the 81st minute, as NYU failed to clear Momoko Aoe’s corner kick. The loose ball fell to Gina Colati, who blasted in the Lions’ third goal from the top of the 18-yard box. TCNJ added a fourth goal by Julianne Delorenzo to put the cap on a day when they looked every inch the #3 team in the nation.

NYU: 0
TCNJ: 4


NYU vs. Elizabethtown

On Sunday, NYU managed to reverse the shooting statistics, outshooting Elizabethtown 17-7 and getting eight shots on goal to the Blue Jays’ three. However, the Violets were forced to play from behind almost immediately. A long ball from Elizabethtown’s Gretchen Geiger in the 5th minute found Brooke Dotterer, who managed to control the ball and beat Kramer. The hosts struck again less than 15 minutes later. This time, Dotterer was the helper, teeing up Carly Hoskins for a 30-yard blast that put NYU two down.

Undaunted, NYU continued to pepper Blue Jays keeper Angela Freeland with shots, and their persistence was rewarded in the 63rd minute, as sophomore Britta Gauthier made her way through the defense and slotted home from 15 yards away. Inspired, the Violets pressed forward for an equalizer but Freeland proved herself equal to the task, saving chances from Caires, Pillemer and freshman Erica Jones.

NYU: 1
ELIZABETHTOWN: 2


Up Next

The Violets will look to notch their first win this weekend in the fifth annual Stevens Institute of Technology Engineering Cup in Hoboken, NJ. They play Ursinus College Saturday, Sept. 6 at 2 p.m., and Middlebury College at noon on Sunday, Sept. 7.


Samuel Chamberlain is sports editor. E-mail him at schamberlain@nyunews.com