CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — The 2016 opening weekend of Patriot League play for women’s soccer is in the books and four teams captured wins – Bucknell, Lehigh, Navy, and Colgate – while Lafayette and Loyola Maryland played to a 1-1 draw.
The Bison (7-0-1, 1-0) and Terriers (0-10-0, 0-1) played a rematch of last year’s Patriot League Championship, but this time it was Bucknell who came out on top. After a first attempt was blocked, junior forward Maddie Mulford put the Bison on the board in the 20th minute with her second try. Senior forward Alexis Gannon added an insurance goal in the final minute for the 2-0 victory. Boston University outshot Bucknell 16-8, with an 11-4 difference in the second half, and also had the advantage on corner kicks, 9-3.
The Mountain Hawks (6-0-1, 1-0) extended their shutout streak to 723:57, which dates back to last season, after capturing a 1-0 win over Holy Cross to open Patriot League play. Lehigh remains as the only team in all of Division I women’s soccer that has not allowed a goal this season. Saturday’s contest against the Crusaders also marked the second time this season that the Mountain Hawks have held their opponent to just one shot on goal.
In the academy rivalry, the Midshipmen claimed the first star victory of the series with a 1-0 win over the Black Knights after sophomore Anabell Motley scored what was the game-winner in the ninth minute of the contest. Colgate also notched a 1-0 win to open the Patriot League season thanks to freshman forward Abby Sotomayor, who scored the game-winner in the 66th minute.
American, Lehigh, and Loyola Maryland will play non-League contests against Richmond, Temple, and Monmouth, respectively, on Tuesday before Patriot League action continues on Saturday.
Weekend Results
Thursday, September 15
No. 23 UConn 2, Colgate 0
Northeastern 2, Boston University 0
Friday, September 16
Navy 1, Army West Point 0
Saturday, September 17
Lafayette 1, Loyola Maryland 1 (2OT)
Colgate 1, American 0
Lehigh 1, Holy Cross 0
Sunday, September 18
Army West Point 4, Fairleigh Dickinson 1
Navy 2, Mount St. Mary’s 0
Bucknell 2, Boston University 0
The women’s soccer weekly awards for Sept. 12 – Sept. 18 went to Anabell Motley (Navy), Clare Shea (Army West Point), Jackie Ham (Bucknell), Jessica Ratner (Bucknell), Sidonie Warnecker (Lehigh).
Corvias Patriot League Women’s Soccer Weekly Awards
CORVIAS OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
ANABELL MOTLEY, NAVY So., F, Asheville, N.C.
Motley had a hand in all three of the Midshipmen’s goals over the weekend, scoring twice to total five points. The sophomore’s first goal of the weekend, a game-winner, came in the ninth minute against rival Army West Point in the Patriot League opener on Friday night. On Sunday against Mount St. Mary’s, she put one by the keeper in the 39th minute and later assisted on the second goal of the game, helping Navy wrap up its weekend with two victories.
CORVIAS MIDFIELDER OF THE WEEK
CLARE SHEA, ARMY WEST POINT Jr., M, Allendale, N.J.
After leading the team with four shots, three of which were on target, in the Black Knights’ 1-0 loss to Navy, Shea helped Army to a 4-1 win over Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday. The junior tallied assists on the two insurance goals and now has a total of six points on the season.
CORVIAS DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
JACKIE HAM, BUCKNELL Jr., D, Stratham, N.H.
Ham helped Bucknell claim its first-ever victory over Boston University at home on Sunday. The junior made a defensive save in the 72nd minute, kicking the ball off the line to preserve the clean sheet and team’s third straight shutout. The win over the Terriers snapped a five-game losing streak in League openers for the Bison, who sit atop of the standings at 7-0-1, 1-0 PL.
CORVIAS GOALKEEPER OF THE WEEK
JESSICA RATNER, BUCKNELL Sr.,GK, Langhorne, Pa.
Ratner helped Bucknell claim its first-ever victory over Boston University at home on Sunday. The senior made seven saves to pick up her 19th career-shutout and is now the all-time program leader in that category. The win over the Terriers snapped a five-game losing streak in League openers for the Bison, who sit atop of the standings at 7-0-1, 1-0 PL.
CORVIAS ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
SIDONIE WARNECKER, LEHIGH Fr., F/M, Downingtown, Pa.
After a scoreless first half in the Mountain Hawks’ Patriot League opener at Holy Cross, Warnecker collected a loose ball in the box and fired the game-winner at 55:16. The goal marked the freshman’s second of the season as well as her second game-winner.
HONORABLE MENTION
MADDIE MULFORD, BUCKNELL Jr., F, Winnetka, Ill.
Mulford helped the Bison earn their first-ever victory over Boston University, scoring the first goal in the 20th minute of the 2-0 victory on Sunday.
ABBY SOTOMAYOR, COLGATE Fr., F, Colchester, Conn.
Sotomayor scored the game-winning goal in the Raiders’ Patriot League opener at American on Sunday. Colgate’s 1-0 win over the Eagles marked the sixth-straight year of winning the League opener.
CASEY MCKENZIE, LOYOLA MARYLAND Fr., MF, New Egypt, N.J.
McKenzie scored the equalizer in the 40th minute of the 1-1 draw versus Lafayette on Saturday to open Patriot League play.
ASHLEY MAZIARZ, LEHIGH So., D, Chesterfield, N.J.
Maziarz helped the Mountain Hawk defense allow just four shots, and only one on goal in a 1-0 win over Holy Cross on Saturday to open Patriot League play. The Lehigh defense has now extended its shutout streak to 723:57, dating back to last season.
ALEX JACKSON, NAVY Fr., D, Centennial, Colo.
Jackson helped lead the Midshipmen defense secure two clean sheets this weekend and was the only backline defender to play all 90 minutes in both Navy contests.
KELLY CHIAVARO, COLGATE Fr., GK, Blainville, Quebec
After posting a career-best 11 saves against No. 23 UConn on Thursday, Chiavaro earned her first career shutout in Colgate’s Patriot League opener. The freshman made two saves in the 1-0 win at American on Saturday.
Past Weekly Award Winners
Offensive Player of the Week
09.12.16 Kendall Ham, Bucknell
09.06.16 Tori Pantaleo, Lehigh
08.29.16 Melissa Lynskey, Lafayette
08.22.16 Julianna Cabrera, Loyola
Midfielder of the Week
09.12.16 Adrian Vitello, Lehigh
09.06.16 Adrian Vitello, Lehigh
08.29.16 Katie Brannigan, Lafayette
08.22.16 Katie Brannigan, Lafayette
Defensive Player of the Week
09.12.16 Alyssa Riporti, Lehigh
09.06.16 Maddie Dano, Bucknell
08.29.16 Nicole Wahlig, Loyola
08.22.16 Rachel Bloznalis, Boston University
Goalkeeper of the Week
09.12.16 Sam Miller, Lehigh
09.06.16 Danielle Sedillo, Lafayette
08.29.16 Kelly Chiavaro, Colgate
08.22.16 Kelly Chiavaro, Colgate
Rookie of the Week
09.12.16 Nicole Bautista, Army West Point
09.06.16 Sam Miller, Lehigh
08.29.16 Sam Miller, Lehigh
08.22.16 Cadie Higginson, Navy