The Geneseo women’s soccer team finished its last two games of the season with wins against SUNY Potsdam and Elmira College with scores of 7-0 and 1-0, respectively, but lost to SUNY Plattsburgh 3-1.
In the Oct. 18 game against Plattsburgh the Knights fell to a barrage of goals in the second half.
Plattsburgh senior forward Kristie Pageau scored two of the three goals for the Cardinals, who head coach Nate Wiley described as “the difference maker in the game.”
After the goals by Pageau, Geneseo came up with its own in the 85th minute. Sophomore Brittany Young curled a corner kick from the right side and senior Katie Beale headed the ball into the goal, the first of her collegiate career.
Wiley said that Geneseo has improved on corner kicks since the start of the season.
“We’ve spent a lot of time over the last two-thirds of our season on corner kicks both attacking and defending them,” Wiley said.
In a match on Saturday Oct. 20, Geneseo scored the most goals in one game it has in the entire season. Six Knights found the back of the net as they shut out Potsdam 7-0. Wiley said he was impressed with the way Geneseo played.
This was a game of first goals for a few Geneseo players. Freshman Sam Sherman, senior Bethany Kwarta and freshman Kelsey Raschke scored their first goals of the season. Senior Shannon Spusta and sophomore Allison Kopunek also scored for the Knights.
“We were sharp in every area,” Wiley said of the matchup between the Knights and Potsdam. “We did a good job keeping shots on target and the goals we scored were good goals.”
Geneseo rode its wave of momentum into its game on Tuesday Oct. 23, blanking Elmira 1-0. Junior Kelly Quinn scored the lone goal, allowing Geneseo to end the season with a two-game winning streak.
Though Geneseo’s season lacked a playoff run, Wiley said he was encouraged by the progression of his younger players, including Raschke.
Wiley said he hopes her goal scoring will carry into the next season and that it “will be a good confidence booster.” He described Raschke as someone who “has the ability to score goals.”
As the season comes to a close, Wiley said he is starting to look forward to next season’s success.
“It’s been a rough season in terms of results,” Wiley said. “But I think being able to finish the season on such a positive note will give us the confidence going forward.”