Last Friday, the NYU Violets women’s soccer team got a fresh start to its 2017 season, with a dominant 4-0 victory over St. Joseph’s College. In addition to a great showing from both teams, more than 200 people came out to support their school, while many also streamed the game from home.

CAS sophomore Alex Benedict opened up the scoring and picked right back up where she left off last season as the team’s leading goal scorer. Benedict, who is playing for the first time since sustaining an injury this spring, said she is excited for what is to come this season and is looking forward to contributing to the team’s success.

“I expect that we will win the [University Athletic Association] and get to the [National Collegiate Athletic Association] tournament,” Benedict said. “We have a phenomenal group of new players who bring a lot to the table and can help us get there.”

LS freshman Julia Raith netted her first career collegiate goal in the match.

“When I scored my rst goal, I was utterly elated and honestly somewhat shocked,” Raith said. “It was an unforgettable moment due to the fact that when one goes through transition, in this case transitioning from high school or club soccer to the collegiate level, there is always a new bar to be set and a higher level that is expected.”

Raith registered six shots in total throughout the game. She said she approached this game as she would any other — focusing on reaching the standards set by her team, her coaches and herself.

“My team and I are trying to achieve and really pay attention to the physical recovery throughout the week due to many hard practices,” Raith said. “Although collegiate soccer is most definitely a higher and more intense level of playing, [my coaches] Michele, Taylor and Scott have been instrumental in connecting everything I had learned about preparation and performance with the new information they have provided me with.”

She credits the technical staff with her ability to mesh with the team so easily, and she praised her teammates for their hard work and talent. Raith said being part of the NYU community helps her in aspects of her life beyond athletics.

“NYU is the only university that truly allows me to experience the world all around,” Raith said. “It’s a place without walls. Not only are there no campus walls, but also there are no walls of a specific culture, language, city or continent.”

The Women’s soccer team will look to continue its winning streak against Swarthmore College on Sept. 9 in the Stevens Engineering Cup.