Women’s soccer continues its impressive start this year as they sit atop the SUNYAC standings and have found themselves ranked 16th nationally in Division III. More impressive by far has been the play of sophomore forward Hannah Sullivan as she has become a true star for the Knights. She tied the league lead for scoring with three goals and two assists in just two games this weekend, giving her eight goals on the season and the most goals of any player in the SUNYAC.
The Knights cruised to a 2-0 victory over SUNY Plattsburgh followed by a 5-0 throttling of SUNY Potsdam this past weekend in large part due to Sullivan’s amazing performance. The defeat of Potsdam also gave junior Ellie Gregory her first two goals of the season and demonstrated the team’s depth, as one of the team’s pivotal players, senior Domenica Piccoli, sat out both games over the weekend due to injury.
The first game versus Plattsburgh was not as lopsided as the score may suggest, considering the Knights were outshot 12-11 overall, and 9-2 in the first half. The Knights flipped the script in the second half, starting off with a goal from senior midfielder Grace Dunnigan off a great pass from freshman forward Lindsay Wright that would promptly find the ball zooming past the goalie and into the net. Continuing Geneseo’s revitalized performance was Sullivan, who won a footrace with a Plattsburgh defender to put the ball past the goalie in the 74th minute, making Geneseo’s lead insurmountable.
Geneseo’s victory over Potsdam was accurately portrayed by the 5-0 result as the Knights thoroughly dominated Potsdam in every facet of the game. It took only four minutes for the Knights to take the lead off a goal from Gregory yet again assisted by Wright, who now has 8 points in her last six games. The 16th minute brought another goal by Sullivan and was brought about by the efforts of sophomore midfielder Mackenzie Griffin. The duo was not finished as Sullivan repaid Griffin with another impressive display of teamwork allowing Griffin to make the score 3-0 Knights. Sullivan added another goal ten minutes later to put Geneseo up by four followed only a minute later by Gregory notching another goal that effectively sealed the game for the Knights.
Sullivan refused to take credit for the team’s success over the weekend and instead gave the credit to her team for their recent stretch of success. “Our program is strong because we have skilled players and insightful coaches, yes, but I think what really speaks to our success is the type of people we are,” she said. “Having such genuine and supportive women working together towards a common goal is something that can't beat. We don't settle and we're constantly raising each other up to the highest standard possible.”
Sullivan’s great start to the season was not about her but what she could do for the team. “It’s just as important to listen to your teammates around you and respond accordingly, whether that’s getting back on defense or switching the field to get out of tight situations,” she said. “It's those things that ultimately contribute to the assists and goals and eventually the win.”
Sullivan’s work ethic has apparently rubbed off on the team as they appear to be becoming a juggernaut ready to assert their control over the SUNYAC come playoffs.
The Knights will be back at it on Friday Oct. 11 visiting SUNY Fredonia at 4 p.m.