Geneseo field hockey added to their win total with a victory over Washington and Jefferson College, led by senior forward Elisa Arcara. The win improved the team’s record to 4-2 this season.
Washington and Jefferson are the reigning Empire 8 champions and the Knights came away with an impressive win over the Presidents who had gone 18-2 in the year prior to this season. The win moved the Knights to second place in the SUNYAC standings and marked the fifth time this year where the Knights held their opponent to one goal or less. It was Arcara who stole the show in this one, however, as her two-goal effort led to the team’s impressive win for the visiting Knights.
Washington and Jefferson started off the scoring in the final minutes of the second quarter after what had been an extremely competitive first half. The Knights tied the game just before the second quarter ended on a play started by junior defender Kelly McKeveny. She launched a ball toward the net after a restart, allowing Arcara to notch a goal and regain momentum for her team.
The game remained tied until a last-second goal from the team leader in points, senior forward Erin Nolan. The goal was the consequence of a penalty committed by Washington and Jefferson, which gave Geneseo a penalty corner. This goal proved to make a difference for the Knights as they would add to their lead with another goal from Arcara on a penalty stroke with nine minutes remaining in the game, sealing the Geneseo victory.
Notable in the win was the lopsided shots-on-goal tally, as the Knights led with 12 compared to the three from the Presidents. The team’s control of the field was a topic of discussion for Nolan who was a big part in the defeat of the Presidents. “We made quick decisions, supported each other and had a strong passing game,” she said. “Our defense and midfield were resilient, maintained possession and controlled the tempo of the game, while our offense earned a lot of corners. It was a full team effort.”
Nolan made it clear that the team is not focused on individual stats but working together selflessly in order to give the team the best chance to win.
She also talked about what the team needs to improve on this season even after their win on Saturday. “There are still things we need to improve on before entering SUNYAC play. We need to play our game and focus on the things we have control over,” Nolan said. “We need to keep our energy and mindset strong heading into each quarter. Our team is focusing on one game at a time. We want to win SUNYACS, but to get there we need to work hard each day. This team is special, and we know that we can go as far as we are willing to push ourselves and each other.”
Also contributing to the toppling of the Presidents was senior defender Julia Kim who added to the shots on goal differential with her four shots. She attributed the team’s success to teamwork and effort, among other things. “I thought the team played very well together and fought hard to win 50-50 balls,” Kim said. “We were connecting on passes and supported each other defensively. I think it was an excellent team win.”
Kim also stated that the team had a great mindset going into the game. “It was really exciting to play a team that we have never played before and come out so strong. We have been working on being a team that plays all four quarters consistently and I felt that during our game we had constant energy to help secure the win,” she said.
If the Knights can keep up the teamwork and maintain the same energy the sky is the limit for this season.