Jeff Kahntroff/Student LifeComing off tough losses to Emory University and McKendree College, the Washington University women’s soccer team got back to their winning ways this weekend with two key home UAA victories. First the Bears downed Rochester 2-1 and then took another nail biter from Brandeis 1-0.
On Friday, Rochester took an early lead thanks to a Karen Forsythe corner kick that eluded WU goalkeeper Charlotte Felber in the 51st minute. WU struck back when Brenda Harpole, assisted by Kelly Jung, slammed home her fifth goal of the season, past Yellow Jackets goalkeeper Sarah Malecki, in the 60th minute. Then at 69:29 Kim Raess punched in her seventh goal of the season off a 28-yard free kick to put WU up for good. The WU victory was impressive considering Rochester mustered 14 shots, forcing Felber to make seven saves.
With one victory in hand, the Bears faced off with Brandeis on Sunday, pestering Judges goalie Mari Levine with 21 shots. At 65:32, Kelly Jung finally scored on a corner kick that bounced off Levine to record her second goal of season. The lone goal was all the Bears and Felber needed to shut out Brandeis.
With two all-important UAA wins over the weekend, the Bears now look toward their last three home matches of the season against Westminster College, University of Chicago, and Webster University. The match with UAA rival University of Chicago on Saturday is the biggest. Chicago comes into the game at 4-1 with 13 points in the UAA and WU needs a victory to jump into third place in the UAA, leapfrogging Chicago.