The Geneseo women’s soccer team stretched its undefeated streak to eight games on Sept. 23 and 24 as they defeated SUNY Fredonia 1-0 and tied Buffalo State College 1-1 in the opening weekend of conference play.
The Knights jumped in front early with senior striker Anne Beinetti recording her eighth goal of the season. Beinetti, Geneseo’s leading goal scorer, used her physicality to bust through the Fredonia defense and bury her shot in the far side netting from 12 yards out with what head coach Nate Wiley described as a “classy finish.”
“We started the game as a team, we started the game with a good energy, pushing forward and putting pressure on the other team’s defense … and I think [Beinetti’s] goal was a byproduct of the way that we started the match,” Wiley said. “We started with the energy that we know we need to have with an opening conference game.”
Although Geneseo continued to dominate play and maintained the majority of the possession throughout the rest of the first half, Fredonia remained only one goal away from tying the game because of Geneseo’s inability to finish some point blank chances.
“We had a few chances we should have put away. Had we scored one or both of those it puts us in a much more comfortable position,” added Wiley.
For the last 20 minutes of the second half, the game became a little less comfortable for Geneseo as Fredonia made some personnel and formation changes in hopes to create some more opportunities on offense. While Fredonia did manufacture a few late chances, Geneseo was solid enough in the back to thwart any attacks before they became too dangerous.
Sophomore Julia Sanger made five saves in net as she recorded the shutout for Geneseo.
The next day, Saturday Sept. 24., the Knights faced their second conference opponent as they traveled to Buffalo State.
The game ended as a 1-1 draw, with Beinetti once again scoring the lone goal of the game for Geneseo in the 26th minute. Beinetti’s goal displayed great touch as she bent an outside of the left foot shot over the goalie’s head while saving the ball from crossing the end line left of the goal.
“I have no idea how it went in. It pretty much defied the laws of physics,” Wiley said.
“Buffalo State had the better play the first 25 minutes … that goal kind of settled us down. I started to recognize our team again,” Wiley said.
Geneseo’s lead did not last long though, as Buffalo State senior Tina Boberskyj scored on a free kick 20 yards out just, six minutes after Beinetti’s tally.
“[Boberskyj] hit an absolute rocket … I’d be willing to bet it was close to, if not harder than I can hit the ball,” he added.
The second half yielded back and forth play with no team really taking control. Buffalo State nearly stole the game late as the team had a shot carom off the post in the overtime session.
The Knights, now 7-1-1 overall and 1-0-1 in conference play, host SUNY New Paltz this Friday, Sept. 30 in a matchup of the top two teams in the SUNYAC conference.