Varsity Red, the junior varsity-esque squad, exists as a “training team” to develop players’ skills. Varsity Red’s purpose is to serve as a way for players who normally don’t receive much, if any, playing time in regular varsity games. In Varsity Red games, they may hone abilities that will be used in the more physical, faster-paced varsity matches. The roster is constantly rotating, depending on which personnel are needed and on recent performances on the court. For an away game, which requires plane travel, the varsity squad generally takes 14 players. If the squad travels by bus, it usually takes between 15 and 17.

“Coach [Nancy Fahey] uses the Varsity Red games to give players playing experience,” graduate student co-captain Jaimie McFarlin said. “Every week Coach must make the decision about who travels, sits on the bench…and that is based on a lot of factors, such as the team we are playing.”

The team is usually coached by Bobbi Morse, the assistant coach for the varsity squad, but the two teams may share coaches at any time. Games are on Mondays, and the entire program shows up to support the Red.

“We all have Washington University on the front of our jersey, and we just happen to play on different days of the week,” said Amanda Meppelink, a sophomore who plays for Varsity Red. “Everyone in the program is supportive of each other. We all practice together and scrimmage against each other, so there really is no dynamic.”

Varsity Red faces off against various junior colleges and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, such as Lewis and Clark, Southwestern Illinois Community College, Elmhurst, Lindenwood and Millikin. Varsity Red is currently 4-1, having lost to only Kaskaskia College.

The Varsity Red is very integrated into the program, on and off the court.

“Other than their additional games,” McFarlin said, “everyone practices together, and we don’t consider anyone ‘JV’ players.”

The Varsity Red games not only allow players to work on their individual skills, but also “execute what we practice so when in a varsity game [we] are prepared,” said Stacey Niese, a senior co-captain. Niese played on Varsity Red and stressed the value of being able to replicate game settings that are impossible to have in practice while playing in the Red games.

Niese also emphasized the cohesiveness of the women’s basketball program.

“No matter where you are in the system, we are one team working towards the same goals, and everyone sees her teammates as an equally important part of what makes [the] Wash. U. women’s basketball team great,” Niese said.

On Tuesday, about twenty athletes sacrificed a few hours of finals studying to go to the Build-A-Bear Workshop in the Galleria Mall, where they stuffed bears for the St. Louis Children’s Hospital. The event was organized by the Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC). . Build-A-Bear Workshop donated the 50 bears athletes created and an additional 50 bears that had already been stuffed.

According to the athletes present, SAAC’s mission is to foster a tighter athletic community within Wash. U by making events for athletes to participate within the university and out. Stacey Niese, a senior co-captain on the women’s basketball team and a member of SAAC, said that one of the most important aspects of SAAC is “promoting sport to sport cohesion”.

As part of the teddy bear drive, SAAC completed an inter-sport competition to see which athletic team could donate the most amount of stuffed animal bears. The softball team succeeded by a large margin, obtaining over 100 bears, and will be receiving some sort of “surprise”, according to sophomore Emma Brown, a member of SAAC and the women’s soccer team.

(L-R) Freshmen Sondra Polonsky, Claire Downs, sophomore Corissa Santos and junior Claire Voris of the Washington University softball team rub hearts on their noses as they created bears for the St. Louis Children's Hospital. Athletes stuffed 50 bears on December 8 at the Build-A-Bear Workshop in the Galleria Mall. (Johann Qua Hiansen | Student Life)

Isaac Stein, a member of the men’s tennis team and the SAAC executive board, was the lone male athlete at the event. “One of the biggest goals of SAAC is to promote interaction between the teams, “ Stein said. “You know your teammates well enough, but one of the goals is to encourage interaction between sports.”

Even though Stein was the only male athlete at the event, Build-A-Bear employee and Fontbonne junior Jessi Rowan said that he “did well” with the heart ceremony, which boys sometimes have trouble with.

The heart ceremony includes rubbing the heart on your forehead so the bear is “super smart like you”,  putting it on your cheek “for lots of smiles” and kissing the heart to “seal in your wish” inside the bear. These hearts are then placed inside the bear before they are stuffed.

(L-R) Sophomore Emma Brown, junior Julie Tembunkiart, freshman Emily Gosché and junior Katy Southworth of the Washington University women's soccer team rub hearts on their ears as they stuff bears bound for the St. Louis Children's Hospital. (Johann Qua Hiansen | Student Life)

The bear drive is a relatively new charity event, as it was just started two years ago. Junior Katy Southworth, who organized Tuesday’s event at Build-A-Bear and is a member of the women’s soccer team, appreciated the brief break from studying for finals. “It’s exciting to do something that’s not sports related with all of us athletes together,” Southworth said. “It’s fun to do it during exam week, cause then we have a de-stress moment that is helpful to everyone else, because all the bears are going to  [the] Children’s Hospital.”

Sophomore Liz Phillips, a member of the track and field and cross country teams, was able to take a break from studying to come down to the store.

“It’s really exciting, and it’s really great that Build-A-Bear has agreed to donate so many bears,” Phillips said. “[It's] a great opportunity for us to help out in the community and help the kids.”

Members from the women’s basketball, women’s tennis and softball teams were represented as well.  At one point during the stuffing, Santa Claus made an appearance making sure everyone there had been nice during the past year.

The drive opens up to the Wash. U. community this Saturday as Red Alert sponsors a half time shooting contest. Fans who bring any type of stuffed teddy bear to the men’s basketball game against No. 15 Augustana at 7 p.m. will be eligible to compete.  The No. 1 Wash. U. Men’s basketball team escaped with a 64-62 win over No. 8 Wheaton on Wednesday evening.

(L-R) Forwards sophomore Lee Ann Felder, sophomore Emma Brown and senior Caryn Rosoff console each other after falling 1-0 to Messiah College in the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer National Championship on Dec. 5. (Matt Mitgang | Student Life)

The rankings would have put No. 1 Messiah College five goals ahead of No. 17 Washington University, the same score the Falcons won with last year. But the underdog gave the No. 1 team a true batttle, allowing only one Messiah goal in 90 minutes and nearly sending the game into overtime.

“The score was only one-nothing. Last year, [the championship game] was five nothing,” junior Laura McGinnis said. “We did stay in it till the last minute. We didn’t stop fighting.”
The Falcons, who are on a 56-game unbeaten streak, held the Bears to six shots in San Antonio on Saturday, with only one on goal, one of their lowest amounts this season, en route to the Falcons’ second straight NCAA Division III national title.

Offensive opportunities were few and far between, except for the last few minutes of the game as the Red and Green were determined to leave all their efforts on the field. In the 89th minute, senior Emily Bylsma took the last shot the team had in the game.

“The last few minutes were pretty exciting…We were pressing until the very end,” Bylsma said. “Elyse [Hanly] had a really good cross, and the keeper managed to get a hand on it, and I was off by a few inches or a foot from getting a better shot off.”

The Bears had the daunting task of recovering after Friday’s draining game against Lynchburg College, which they won in sudden-death penalty kicks. Coming back on the field less than 24 hours later to try to defeat the team that had won the championship last year in a decisive 5-0 rout was a challenge the Bears came very close to overcoming.

In addition to stifling the Bears’ normally effective attack, the Falcons took 16 shots and were awarded two corner kicks to the Red and Green’s zero. Wash. U.’s lack of opportunities, namely corner kicks, sealed the Bears’ fate.

Messiah found the back of the net in the 23rd minute of the first half when Amanda Naeher received a cross and shot just outside the box into the near corner of the goal, just inches past the diving freshman goalie Clara Jaques, who had six saves throughout the game.

The Falcons kept the Bears’ momentum in check as they opened the game with three forwards, something head coach Jim Conlon had not expected.

“They had us on our heels in the first half with three forwards, and we were able to adjust,” Conlon said. “They did get the goal in the first half, but we just could not get the equalizer.”

Even when the time was short, Wash. U.’s effort was relentless. The Bears’ passion was matched closely by the 23 students on the fan bus, namely the “Conlon Crazies,” a group of men’s soccer players and other fans. According to Bylsma, one of the referees commented on how impressed she was with the dedicated Wash. U. fans.

Senior captain Libby Held and sophomores Emma Brown and Lee Ann Felder were named to the NCAA championship all-tournament team.

The team’s group of eight graduating seniors led the team to its best NCAA appearance in history, making it to the Final Four for the second time ever and the first championship game appearance.

The group also led the team to four consecutive UAA championships.

“These eight seniors have been through a lot together—been through coaching switches, people playing, not playing, people quitting…It’s all about the heart and the common goal all of us shared from the beginning,” senior captain Carter Schwarberg said. “I love my team; I’m so proud of them, and I know they’ll be here next year.”

While the departing eight will be sorely missed in next year’s roster, their influence will remain.

“I’m just excited that our team made it this far,” Brown said. “Our seniors especially pulled our team together. I’ve never been on a team that played for each other as hard as we played for each other all season.”

With additional reporting from San Antonio by Johann Qua Hiansen

Senior Libby Held clears the ball in the national championship game over the weekend. Wash. U. fell 1-0 in the game against Messiah College who repeated as national women’s soccer champions with a 25-0-1 record. (Matt Mitgang | Student Life)

Senior Becca Heymann heads the ball in the national championship game against Messiah College. The Bears fell 1-0 in their program’s first-ever appearance in the national championship game. (Matt Mitgang | Student Life)

Senior co-captain Libby Held moves the ball up the field in the sectional semifinal game against Webster University on Nov. 14. Held and the women’s soccer team head to the Final Four for the second time in school history this weekend. Wash. U. faces Lynchburg College in the national semifinals in San Antonio. (Matt Mitgang | Student Life)

As the Washington University women’s soccer team travels south to San Antonio, the excitement and anticipation within the team is growing. It is the Lady Bears’ second appearance in the Final Four, and first since 1997. Wash. U. faces Lynchburg College in the national semifinal at 1:30 p.m. on Friday. The team enters the tournament with a 17-3-2 record, and boasts the leading scorer in the University Athletic Association, sophomore Emma Brown. Freshman goalkeeper Clara Jaques is in the top three goalkeepers of the UAA with a .870 save percentage. As student-athletes, the players must prepare not only for an intense two days of soccer but also for an imminent wave of finals. Below are the thoughts of players as they enter the final week of their remarkable soccer season.

Freshman goalkeeper Clara Jaques:
“We’re all really pumped for San Antonio and to experience what it means to be in the Final Four. Our goal since August has been to win a national championship, so to be within reach of that goal is really exciting.”

Sophomore midfielder Emma Brown:
“I’m very excited about the Final Four. No matter what the outcome is, it’ll be a great experience to have made it this far in a national tournament. I think the team is pretty excited and a little nervous. I honestly think we’re more nervous about making up our schoolwork right before finals than we are about the game, because we know that if we go to Texas and have fun out on the field and play hard for each other, we’ll do well no matter what.”

Senior co-captain midfielder Becca Heymann:
“I’m really excited. I haven’t been able to think about much else. At least for the senior class, it’s really exciting that we’ve made the Final Four. But our hearts are set on making the final game and winning the championship.”

“We’ve known for two weeks that we’re going to San Antonio this week. All season we were balancing our academics and [athletics]. It’s particularly hard to go during finals week. Some girls are taking exams on the road. It’s just sort of a part of being a student athlete.”

“I wish that in past seasons we had made it this far, but being here now is great—I’m hoping we will be in the finals. I’m just excited that we’re playing in December and I get to draw it out as long as possible.”

Head coach Jim Conlon:
“We’re just trying to keep it loose. We know what our abilities are on the field.”

“We’re excited that the University has decided to sponsor the fan bus. We’ve had some good followings in home and Rockford. I’m just glad that students have the opportunity to utilize that resource…hopefully we can get the word out fast enough.”

“We still got some things to accomplish. Our girls should be proud of what we accomplished but invigorated by what we can do.”

Senior co-captain midfielder Carter Schwarberg:
“[We’re] excited. It’s a huge deal for us. I mean, we’ve been practicing really hard…especially looking at this as the last time I’m going to be on a team like this…I want to do it [win the national championship]. This is my last chance for going all the way.”

“We will be [ready]. Even though we had a break, we worked. We had workouts every day. Everyone knows what’s at stake.”

“There are some nerves, but they’re not taking over. We know these games are going to be tough. [Lynchburg is] apparently pretty scrappy. It’s nerve-wracking. We know they’re the best teams we’ve ever played, [but] at the same time we’ve had tremendous success when we play our game and our style of soccer. [There aren’t] many nerves yet, but it will probably be different when we’re warming up for the game.”

“Even though this is really an exciting time for us, and going to the Final Four is great. We’re going in it to win. It’s definitely on the line. We will do anything we can to win. We really believe we can. We don’t feel like this is lucky or anything, we feel like we deserve this. [It’s] a really exciting position.”

Senior co-captain defensive back Libby Held:
“I think we’re feeling good, we’re confident. We’re in it to win the whole thing. We broke our overtime curse [against Calvin], and so I think we’re feeling good. We’re training really hard this week in order to prepare.”

“Everyone rested up over Thanksgiving break. We’re revitalized and ready to go. Right now it’s all excitement, [but] we’ll all be freaking out a little bit.”

“Honestly it’s a great ending to a career,  I couldn’t have asked for a better senior season, and hopefully we’ll continue to win and go all the way. I’m going to be extremely sad when it’s over. There is an extra sense of urgency in a way, [being a senior], but it shouldn’t affect how we play at all and and how we react to opponents.”

With additional reporting by Johann Qua Hiansen

Freshman goalie Clara Jaques was recently named the University Athletic Association’s Rookie of the Year. She posted a .842 save percentage, a mere .015 points behind the league leader. Jaques has completed nine shutouts of the soccer team’s 16 wins. Over the weekend, Jaques shut out No. 21-ranked Illinois Wesleyan in an overtime win to lead the Bears to the NCAA sectionals against No. 24 Wheaton College on Friday.

Student Life: What has been the most memorable game this season?

Clara Jaques: I’d say the last game, against Illinois Wesleyan. To get back at them and kind of redeem ourselves for losing to them in the first game of the year, and to win it in overtime like that is pretty cool.

SL: How does it feel to be UAA Rookie of the Year?

CJ: It feels good. It’s awesome—the fact that I can contribute so soon to such a successful team is really cool.

SL: What has been, so far, the high point of the year?

CJ: I think we’re in it right now, like winning last Sunday and this week with the anticipation of going out to play Wheaton and just the excitement behind the team and the boys’ team coming out. Yeah, we’re in the middle of it right now.

SL: Speaking of the mens’ team, how do you feel about the [Head Coach Jim] Conlon Crazies?

CJ: They’re hilarious. I tried to keep a straight face when they came out with the new Frère Jacques. I laughed on the field in the middle of the game. I have a lot of respect for their rhyming abilities.

SL: What’s it like being a freshman on the team?

CJ: It’s awesome. There are 10 of us, so it’s kind of a majority compared to other classes. We’re just treated like anyone else. The seniors, juniors and sophomores are all so nice to us. I couldn’t ask for better upperclassmen.

SL: How long have you played soccer and been a goalie?

CJ: Since I was like 5…my parents made me. A couple years after I started, no one else want[ed] to play goalie, so if you’re at all good at it, then they make you keep playing. I think that’s the story with every goalie there is.

SL: Any team or personal pre-game rituals?

CJ: We’ve been really liking Olive Garden of late. We’ve eaten there three times. The endless bread sticks are a big hit. As far as pre-game rituals…well, Laura McGinnis has started to talk about how “no one dances in our W.” We have a little dance session [on the field before the game]. At home games we do the Wash. U. fight song that not many people know exists. I still don’t know the words. Caryn [Rosoff], a senior, doesn’t even know the words. We all just awkwardly clap.

SL: Any funny moments from the season?

CJ: Saturday, at halftime, Coach asked random people about good things we did in the first half. Then he’s like “Jaques,” and I’d been preparing in my head what to say to the question if he asked me. I thought he was going to ask me the same question, and he asked me a completely different question and I just screamed, “Shut out!” Everyone died [laughing].

Fans and players celebrate after Sunday’s NCAA Division III women’s soccer Central Regional final game. The game went into overtime at 0-0, with Hanly scoring the winning goal. The Bears will compete in sectionals versus Wheaton College this Friday. (Daniel Eicholtz | Student Life)

Francis Field’s atmosphere was electric and tense this weekend as Washington University’s women’s soccer team defeated both Webster University and Illinois Wesleyan University in sudden death overtimes. With the victory against Illinois Wesleyan, the Bears advance to the NCAA’s Sweet Sixteen for the fourth time in row. The Red and Green face Wheaton (Ill.) on Friday, at a to-be-determined location.

“It’s really exciting. Being in a class that’s won the UAA every year and been to the Sweet Sixteen four years in a row feels good,” senior captain Becca Heymann said. “But we really want to win [the national championship].”

Wash. U. 1, Illinois Wesleyan 0 (OT)

In a game that was dominated by a midfield tug-of-war and defensive plays, neither team saw an opportunity to score until 15 minutes into the first half when Wash. U. had a breakaway. But the effort was for nil, as neither team found the back of the net until overtime. Both teams were in a 3-4-3 formation, packing the midfield with action. But the Wash. U. offense still found more success than the Titans, as the Bears led 6-1 in shots with 10 minutes remaining in the first half.

Heymann was recognized by a lot of her teammates as being a standout performance.

Senior midfielder Elyse Hanly clears the ball during the second half of Sunday's NCAA Division III Regional Final game. The game went into overtime at 0-0 with Hanly scoring the winning goal. The Bears will compete in the Sweet Sixteen versus Wheaton College this Friday. (Daniel Eicholtz | Student Life)

“There were a lot of great, great efforts, [especially] Becca Heymann in the middle,” head coach Jim Conlon said. “Playing 90 minutes in the center mid and doing what she did laterally and vertically, she was special today.”

Sophomore Lee Ann Felder had a golden opportunity to score from a free kick a little over 17 minutes into the first half, but the ball ricocheted off the crossbar.

UAA Rookie of the Year Clara Jaques, a freshman, had her ninth shutout of the season.

“It’s awesome. It was our goal [to get a shutout],” Jaques said. “To do it here on our field is amazing.”

The game rolled into overtime, and the intensity on the field heightened noticeably. The two teams’ last meeting in the beginning of the season had ended in a Wash. U. loss. Halfway through the first overtime, senior Elyse Hanly received a pass from classmate Becca Heymann, who had dribbled around a Titan defender. Senior Caryn Rosoff had the hockey assist, getting the ball to Heymann off her heel while being tightly defended.

“Becca gave a great ball to right in front of the net—I just passed it in,” Hanly said.

Wash. U. 2, Webster 1 (OT)

More than 300 fans enjoyed the beautiful Saturday morning as the Bears defeated Webster in overtime. Scoring started quickly, as senior Carter Schwarberg had scored under four minutes in.

“I think Carter, as always, played phenomenally. I mean she got a black eye. She gets up and we look at her eye and [told] her go of off, and she’s like, ‘No, I’ll keep playing.’ She’s such a beast,” said sophomore Emma Brown, who made the All-UAA Second Team. Luckily for the Bears, Carter stayed in and scored under a minute after.

“There was kind of a scramble in the back, and the other team failed to clear it, and I got a good hit on it with my left foot,” Schwarberg said.

The Gorloks were able to stay in the game because of their goalie, freshman Shelby Wade. Wade’s seven saves came at crucial points within the game.

Sophomore Emma Brown had two shots in the Nov. 7 loss to the University of Chicago. Wash. U. tied for the UAA title with the University of Rochester and earned an automatic NCAA bid. (Matt Mitgang | Student Life)

Despite holding an undefeated streak dating back to Sept. 5, the Washington University women’s soccer team (14-3-1, 5-1-1 UAA) could not overcome the University of Chicago on Saturday, Nov. 7.

The Bears, who entered the game one point ahead of the University of Rochester, failed to secure an outright University Athletic Association (UAA) title with the 3-0 loss.

Both teams will have a share of the UAA crown because Rochester tied with Case Western Reserve University. But the Red and Green will receive an automatic berth into the NCAA tournament because they defeated Rochester 2-1 in an earlier season matchup. The appearance will be the team’s seventh consecutive.

The first goal against the Bears occurred 24 minutes into the first half when a Chicago forward shot the ball through the legs of freshman goalkeeper Clara Jaques, about 10 yards away. The Maroons stifled Wash. U.’s offense for the whole game, even though both teams were allowed 11 shots and six corner kicks.

“The biggest challenge, I think, was getting our rotational offense together,” senior captain Carter Schwarberg said. “[Chicago] packed a lot of people in the back, and our forwards had some trouble connecting with each other.”

The second half saw the Maroons’ lead jump by two goals. Eight minutes in, Chicago midfielder Emily Benoit was able to shoot above Jaques’s reach. As the time ticked away, Wash. U. turned up the heat to try to turn the game around, but Chicago matched its intensity. With 10 minutes left, the Chicago offense once again lit up for a give-and-go 12 yards out.

“It’s a conference game, so all these games, they really matter. Every team in our conference is really good…[The games are] always battles and you really just have to be on top of it if you want to win,” senior captain Libby Held said.

As NCAA play approaches, the team hopes to have senior Caryn Rosoff available. Rosoff was absent from the Chicago game because of the lower calf strain injury she received last weekend against New York University.

“We just learned that no matter what, no matter how well we’ve been playing the past couple weeks, we can’t be complacent,” Schwarberg said. “Always on our toes, always ready for the next person no matter what happens.”

Some players said the team just never really found its groove in the game. The Bears are still confident, however, even with the disappointing loss.

“In terms of the tournament, we might have a little bit harder of a seed.” Schwarberg said. “We might have to play a harder team earlier on in the tournament, but I’m not worried about it.”

Tournament seeding will be determined Monday during a live broadcast on the NCAA Web site.

With additional reporting by Hannah Lustman

Sophomore Natalie Callaghan dribbles the ball in an Oct. 18 game against the University of Rochester. Callaghan scored the game winner against Brandeis University on Oct. 30. (Daniel Eicholtz | Student Life)

With this past weekend’s wins over Brandeis University and New York University, the No. 8 Washington University women’s soccer team held on to its top spot in the University Athletic Association standings.

After an intense but successful two-match sequence, the Bears have a week to rest injuries, including senior forward Caryn Rosoff’s lower calf strain, and gear up for the University of Chicago.

Wash. U. currently holds a one-point lead over the University of Rochester, and with one game left in UAA play, the Bears must defeat the Maroons to secure a share of the UAA championship and be guaranteed a NCAA tournament bid.

The Bears have not lost since a 1-0 decision to then-No. 6 Johns Hopkins University on Sept. 5.

Wash. U. 2, Brandeis 0

While the Bears’ first UAA matchup in 12 days ended with a win, it wasn’t the way they would’ve liked to start the long weekend and the final leg of league play, according to players. Rosoff, during the game, was pushed out of bounds and pulled her lower calf as her cleat became stuck in a grate in between the field and track.

Sophomore back Natalie Callaghan drew first blood 33 minutes into the first half. She received the ball from senior Elyse Hanly about 40 yards out from the Judges’ goal.

“The ball was passed back to me, and my teammates told me to cross it,” Callaghan said, “and I [did], and it went over the keeper’s head. I thought someone was going to flick it in, but it ended up just kind of going in on its own.”

While the Judges had many opportunities to score during the game, freshman goalkeeper Clara Jaques did not allow a ball past. The Judges’ offense outshot the Bears 15-13.

Senior Becca Heymann added another goal with 19 minutes left in the second half, off an assist from junior midfielder Julie Tembunkiart.

“[Tembunkiart] chased down a really long ball and miraculously got to it and made a cross to the near post about a yard or two off the endline and kicked it in,” Heymann said. With that goal, Heymann became the tenth most goal-scoring player in Wash. U. women’s soccer history.

Wash. U. 2, NYU 1 (OT)

In Sunday’s match, both teams were held scoreless in the first half, despite a 10-3 shot advantage for Wash. U. However, NYU found the back of the net first in the second half. During a shuffle in front of the goal, an NYU player fed the ball past Jaques five minutes in to make the score 1-0.

As the minutes waned and urgency loomed for the Bears, sophomore Lee Ann Felder was able to force the game into overtime on an unassisted free kick with 90 seconds remaining.

“Emma got fouled pretty close to the 18-yard-line. Becca [Heymann] and I were standing over the ball, and I decided to take it because I’m left-footed, and it was a good position for a left foot,” Felder said. “It went, luckily, into the goal and into the far post.”

With the score tied, the Bears went into their third overtime of the season. Only 1:28 into the extra time, Heymann yet again scored for the game winner.

The Red and Green face the University of Chicago on Saturday in Chicago at 1:30 p.m.

Correction Inserted-Bears must defeat Chicago.

Senior Becca Heymann chases down a loose ball in an Oct. 18 game against the University of Rochester. Heymann scored twice in an 8-0 victory against Fontbonne University on Oct. 25. (Daniel Eicholtz | Student Life)

The Washington University women’s soccer team made it a long afternoon for its across-the-street rivals, the Fontbonne University Griffins, in the 2009 Wydown Showdown. Even with Fontbonne coming in with a 6-10 record, the Bears were not caught looking past this game to next Friday’s University Athletic Association game against Brandeis University. With the midfielders using crisp one-on-one touches to advance the attack and accurate long passes inside the Griffin defense, the Bears used fundamental soccer skills to put their opponent down early.

Sophomore Lee Ann Felder kicked off the scoring 11 minutes into the game.

“I got a great assist from [Emma Brown], and there wasn’t anybody on my back, and I turned and shot it near post,” Felder said.

A mere 30 seconds later, Brown found the net off a beautiful left-footed shot to the upper-right corner from just outside the box for her 12th goal of the season.

With just less than 30 minutes remaining in the first half, senior Caryn Rosoff connected with fellow senior Becca Heymann. Rosoff delivered a low, hard cross, which Heymann headed decisively into the goal. Heymann wasn’t finished, however and added another point as senior Emily Bylsma crossed the ball and assisted Heymann for her second goal of the game to make the score 4-0 in favor of Wash. U.

Three minutes later, Brown yet again connected for her 13th goal of the season after she received the ball in the middle of the box for a quick shot.

By marking their opponents and closing quickly on the ball, the Bears’ defense never gave Fontbonne much open field to work with. The Griffins were kept on their heels and at midfield or on defense most of the game. At the half, the Bears led 5-0.

“I think we’re just really playing good team defense,” senior defender Libby Held said. “[We are] talking a lot and supporting each other, playing smart.”

With 34 minutes remaining in the second half, Rosoff scored the 42nd goal of her career and tied 2002 graduate Jessica Glick for third on the all-time goal-scoring list at Wash. U. Rosoff beat two consecutive Griffin defenders one on one and shot over the charging goalie for the milestone.

“It feels pretty good. It’s nice to see everything coming together,” Rosoff said. “It’s better to see us winning.”

“Caryn’s special. She’s a special player. She’s a special person. It’s more than her goal scoring—her attitude, the way she practices, the way she trains, the way she makes other people better,” head coach Jim Conlon said. “I think if you ask her, she’s more happy with the two assists today than she is with her goal.”

Five minutes later, freshman Leslie Davis received a pass from classmate Jodi Rosenzweig for her first career goal. To cap off the scoring, freshman Allie Betley struck the ball from the back of the box to the far left corner, giving the Fontbonne goalie no chance to make a save, and increasing the score to 8-0.

This was the 12th time the two neighboring teams had met, and after Sunday’s game Wash. U. leads the series 12-0 and has outscored Fontbonne 67-3 overall.

The No. 9 Red and Green have three games left in the regular season, all in-league games and all away. The team faces three big challengers in the coming two weeks. The Bears travel to Brandeis on Friday and visit New York University two days later. Wash. U. wraps up the season against the No. 15 University of Chicago on Nov. 7.

“We knew we had to win both games,” senior co-captain Becca Heymann said. “Now, we have a little bit of a relaxation time.”

With three games left in league play, the Bears have a realistic chance to end the season as UAA champions.

“[It’s] so, so, so exciting—it was a battle. It puts us in a great position for the NCAA tournament,” said Libby Held, senior co-captain and defensive anchor. “We’re heading into the rest of the season on this huge momentum. We’ve won a couple in a row now, and no one can stop us.”

Freshman goalkeeper Clara Jaques completed her fifth shutout as the team handed Case Western Reserve its first conference loss on Friday.  The Red and Green’s defense held the Spartans to only three shots throughout the entire game and no corner kicks.  Wash. U., on the other hand, dominated on the offensive end with 17 shots and eight corner kicks.

Sophomore Emma Brown opened up scoring with an assist from sophomore Lee Ann Felder 16 minutes into the first half. Felder, having received a pass that threaded Case defenders from senior Caryn Rosoff, lofted the ball to Brown, who one-touched the ball past the Spartan goalkeeper.

The goal was Brown’s 11th of the season. She continues to lead the UAA in goals scored along with Rosoff, who has 10 goals.

The score rested at 1-0 until six minutes remained in the second half. Brown took the ball past the Spartan defenders before feeding Heymann for her first goal of the 2009 season to seal the game at 2-0. The Bears held onto their offensive momentum into Sunday’s game.

On Senior Day, against No. 21 Rochester, the Wash. U. Class of 2010 stepped up as Heymann and Rosoff both scored to lead the team to an overtime victory. The match marked the halfway point of UAA play, as well as the recognition of the seniors on the team.

The Bears were the first to draw blood, as Heymann scored her second goal of the season. After receiving the ball from a corner kick, her strike ricocheted off a Rochester defender and into the net.

Rochester answered swiftly. Two minutes after the Heymann goal, Yellowjacket forward Erin Carballo found the upper corner of the goal. The game went into the second half knotted at 1-1 and remained tied until overtime.  The Bears didn’t enter extra time without opportunities, however, as they outshot their opponent 10-8 in regulation.

With only 5:56 left in the first overtime period, Rosoff received a cross from Brown. Rosoff deftly flicked the ball past the goalkeeper to end the game with a victory.
“It was a great cross, and I kind of flicked it hoping it would go somewhere. It went in—I got really lucky.” Rosoff said of her game winner.

“She’s always trying to do something cheeky like that, but to have it go in for such a big goal for us, it’s really exciting,” Heymann said.

Not only did Rosoff’s goal cap a successful weekend, but the goal also made her the fourth player in Washington University history to have 100 points in a career. The Bears are now in first place by one point above Rochester.

“[Caryn Rosoff’s goal] was ridiculous. She is amazing. I don’t even know what to say. I was in shock when it happened,” Held said. “It was a battle. It was dirty; there [were] fouls, there [were] punches thrown, I’m not kidding.”
The Red and Green (10-2-1, 3-0-1) play their final home game on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 1 p.m. against Fontbonne University.