Following a culmination to the regular season last weekend at Gaelic Park, both the men’s and women’s soccer teams began their postseasons this weekend as they competed in the ECAC Division III Championship. The men’s team played Saturday against Drew University in Camden, New Jersey, falling 3-1. The women’s team took to defending their home field Saturday against Stockton University and Sunday against William Paterson University, vanquishing them both to continue a late-season surge.

The men suffered a hard fought game against Drew, wrought with chippiness that resulted in seven yellow cards and a red card to Drew.

Drew’s first goal was scored in the 27th minute on senior goaltender Lucas Doucette. Their second tally was earned late in the half, in the 42nd minute. In the second half, Drew notched their third in the 61st minute. Down three late in the game, all was not lost for the Violets when senior midfielder Bryan Walsh got them on the board in the 90th minute. The goal may not have won them the game, but it sent the Violets off on a high note. Doucette reflected back on the game as a punctuation mark to the end of not just a season, but his collegiate career.

“We came out and dominated for the first 15 minutes, but after they got a soft goal, the momentum shifted, and they started outplaying us and out-hustling us,” Doucette said. “We never really threatened after that. Tough end to a great season. It is also sad saying goodbye to the program after four great years.” Walsh also added in remarks on his soccer journey.

“I wasn’t ready to give up this game four years ago, and I’m not ready to give it up now,” Walsh said. “It was a tough ending to a season full of progress, but this group of guys is something special, and they now have the foundation to take this program where it has never been before.”

The women enjoyed a more successful weekend, beginning with a 3-2 overtime win against the Ospreys. The opening goal came unassisted from freshman forward Alex Benedict in the seventh minute. The game became a defensive battle until well into the second half when Stockton opened play up and netted a goal in the 60th minute to tie the game at one. Both teams traded second goals, with NYU earning theirs from sophomore forward Meredith Hackerson in the 82nd minute, and the Ospreys getting one back almost immediately in the 85th.

At a 2-2 impasse, sophomore midfielder and defender Maddie Pena alleviated the tension and secured the Violets the win in the first minute of overtime.

On Sunday, the women were dominant against WPU, shutting out the Pioneers 2-0.  Freshman defender Maddie Howard scored first in the third minute. Benedict got the insurance goal to secure the shutout win for senior goalkeeper Cassie Steinberg.

After this weekend’s successful quarterfinal round, the women’s season will try to stay alive in the semis on Saturday, Nov. 19.

A version of this article appeared in the Monday, Nov. 14 print edition. Email at Rachel Ruecker at [email protected].