The Washington University women’s soccer team continued its hot start, defeating both Alma College and 11th-ranked Calvin College last weekend to extend the Bears’ consecutive wins to four.

The Bears are now 5-2 and look to capitalize on their current momentum. Sophomore Emma Brown, who leads the University Athletic Association in goals with seven, has scored six of the team’s last 13 goals, including the three from the team’s current road trip.

After a six-hour bus drive, Wash. U. arrived in Michigan ready to face the Alma Scots in a non-league matchup.

Brown opened up by scoring 24 minutes into the first half.

“On the first goal, one of our freshmen, Lauren Clatch, brought the ball up from defense and passed it to Rachel Haas on the right side,” Brown said about her header, “and I was in the right place [for the cross].”

Alma had no answer, as the game went into halftime with the Red and Green up 1-0. The second half did not see any scoring until almost 10 minutes left, when Brown found the net by dribbling up the middle of the box. Brown was looking to pass but instead found an open seam through multiple defenders for her shot, which resulted in a conspicuous show of frustration by Alma’s coach.

The next day, with a 2-0 win under their belts and two more hours on the bus, the Bears took on the 11th-ranked Calvin College, which they defeated last year 3-2.

“[It was] a real test for us. We knew it was going to be a tough game,” Brown said.

The Knights, holding the Bears to only one shot and taking five of their own, dominated the first half. They were on Wash. U.’s half for the majority, as they took four corner kicks compared to the one opportunity the Bears had.

The Bears only offensive play came from Brown about 20 minutes into the first half.

She dribbled the ball inside the box and took a left-footed strike that sent the ball into the corner of the goal. The lone goal was enough for Wash. U. to leave with another win.

The game was the third consecutive shutout for the Red and Green’s defense and for freshman goalie Clara Jaques. “[The team is] finally getting our rhythm and staying consistent,” Jaques said.

Anchored by senior captain Libby Held, the Bears’ defense is averaging only 0.57 goals allowed per game.

“We’re playing together as a team really well, with lots of communication,” Held said. “We’re doing a really good job on free kicks. We make sure everyone is marked up.”
Wash. U. faces Principia College on Tuesday. The two squads met twice last year, once in the regular season and once in the postseason. Each game ended in the Bears’ favor, 3-1 and 3-0, respectively.

“[The team has] got to continue to grow…play the ball quickly, and focus on possession and win all the balls in the air,” Held said.

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Tags: Clara Jaques, Emma Brown, Women's Soccer

This entry was posted on Monday, September 21st, 2009 at 1:41 am and is filed under Sports, Women's Soccer. You can follow any responses to this entry through this feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.