Margaret BauerOver the past two weeks, the Washington University women’s soccer team has continued their success this season, winning four of five games and improving their record to 12-2 on the season. The nineteenth-ranked Bears were able to travel to Pittsburgh, Pa., to take on UAA (University Athletic Association) rival Carnegie Mellon on October 3 and come away with a 1-0 win. Senior Kara Karnes netted the game-winning goal for the Bears in the 17th minute as she rebounded a shot from freshman Kim O’Keefe for the only goal of the game. Senior goalkeeper Charlotte Felber was able to keep the lead as she made six saves in goal, posting her ninth win of the year.
Two days later, the Bears traveled to Elsah, Ill., to take on Principia College on Oct. 5. The Bears came away with a solid 4-1 win against Principia as they prepared for the next week’s game against UAA rival Emory University. Freshman Kim O’Keefe netted two goals, including the game-winner in the 42nd minute as WU won its fourth-straight game. Sophomore Meghan Marie Fowler-Finn added an unassisted goal three minutes into the second half, and sophomore Sara Schroeder put another tally up in the 82nd minute on an assist from sophomore Talia Bucci.
Following the win against Principia, the Bears were ready for their first home game in over three weeks against UAA rival Emory University on Sunday, Oct. 10. After winning the last four games in a row and winning their last twelve at home, the Bears were feeling pretty confident coming into the game against 6-5 Emory.
Yet despite outshooting Emory 13-5 in the game, the Bears were not able to convert on key scoring opportunities as they fell 1-0. The lone goal in the game came in the 37th minute off a header from a corner kick. The Bears’ best scoring chance came in the 68th minute as freshman Breta Kennedy’s header went off the crossbar. The loss snapped the Bears’ 12-game home win streak, a streak which held its own since November of 2002.
After the defeat by Emory, the Bears fell hard in the NSCAA rankings poll from number 11 to 22. Nevertheless, the Bears were determined to bounce back from the blow and give the players’ parents a good showing for Parents’ Weekend. In front of a crowd of 400 at Francis Field on Friday, Oct. 15, the Bears got on the board quickly-in only the fifth minute of play senior Lindsay Ulkus knocked in a cross pass from freshman Breta Kennedy on the first shot of the game. For the next 85 minutes of regulation, the Bears allowed the Violets only two shots on goal, both of which Felber was able to save. The game-winning goal for Ulkus was her second of the season. The 1-0 win sent the Bears into second place in the UAA standings.
Rebounding from the Emory setback gave the Bears the motivation needed for another win on Sunday, Oct. 17, against Brandeis University, another UAA competitor. The crowd of 200 at Francis Field got to see the Bears pull away to another dominating win, as they improved to 12-2 and 3-1 in UAA play. O’Keefe scored the first goal of the game of four in the 15th minute as she beat Brandeis goalkeeper Natasha Pieciak with a left-footed shot from 20 yards out. She made it 2-0 in the 50th minute as she headed home a cross from sophomore Talia Bucci for her fourth goal of the season. Bucci and sophomore Sara Schroeder each added late insurance goals for the Bears. Seniors Charlotte Felber and Casey Herrforth and freshman Nina Sass split time in goal recording the Bears ninth shutout of the season.
With the win, the Bears improved their NSCAA poll ranking from 22nd to 19th while recovering from the Emory setback on October 10. The Bears return to action against our cross-street rivals, Fontbonne University on Monday, Oct. 25, at Francis Field. Game time is set for 7 p.m.