On Saturday Oct. 26, the Geneseo women’s soccer team faced off against SUNY Brockport in a thrilling match. Both teams showcased their defensive prowess as the Knights fought their way to a 1-0 victory. This victory was crucial because it guaranteed that Geneseo will have first place seeding in the SUNYAC playoffs.
Shot denial was a key component to the Knight’s success, as their team defense effectively kept the ball away from the goal. In the first half, Brockport was without a shot attempt and by the end of the matchup, only two shots on goal were taken by the Brockport offense. Both shots came from a single player on the Brockport roster.
Junior goalkeeper Julia McDonald has continued her outstanding play for the Knights, with this being her fourth consecutive shutout of the season. The combination of the Knights’ ability to prevent shots and McDonald’s skillful blocking of the shots that are taken make Geneseo a fierce defensive force heading into the postseason.
Early in the game, senior forward Domenica Piccoli nearly tallied a goal, but it was rejected by Brockport’s goalkeeper. Senior forward Sarah Loprieno led the way in the game’s later stages, tallying two shots on goal and the night’s only score. Freshman midfielder Holly Moore assisted the play.
Piccoli’s early offensive pressure is nothing new as she leads the team with ten goals on the season. While she does admit that her individual productivity is the result of hard work, the team’s overall success is derived from a culture of solidarity and community, exemplified by Loprieno’s score in the second half.
“Our playstyle together has led to our successful season because of how well we work together and, most importantly, how much we want to be successful collectively,” Piccoli said. She explained that the team’s mindset is to be “better and better every day.”
According to Piccoli, the team does not plan on being content with just their regular-season success. In a collective effort, the team is training and preparing for the playoffs. That is where the ultimate goals and greatest challenges await.
Head coach Nate Wiley knows that the Knights’ success moving forward depends upon many factors. Players must put time into the weight room and on the field to maintain their conditioning as well as intensity. So far, it seems every player has stepped up to the challenge.
Overall, the future of Geneseo’s women’s soccer seems extremely bright and exciting. According to Wiley, the upperclassmen’s ability to teach the new players and include the new players into the program makes the group a cohesive unit.
Of course, it helps that so many of the freshmen have immediately impacted the games and are brimming with untapped potential.
While she is sad to soon be leaving the program following this season, Piccoli is excited to see the growth and success of her underclassmen. “We have a great group of underclassmen that I have no doubt will step up and continue to keep our program as successful as it has a reputation of being,” she said.
With savvy upperclassmen, dynamic underclassmen and the journey to the title at stake, you won’t want to miss what’s coming up next as the Geneseo Knights host the SUNYAC semifinals on Wednesday Nov. 6.