The Hamilton College women’s soccer team (1-0-0, 1-0-0 NESCAC) fought back from an early deficit to record a season-opening 3-2 win over the visiting Trinity College Bantams. The Continentals extended their streak to four straight season-opening wins; Hamilton has not lost its opening game in 12 years, posting an 11-0-1 record in that span.
Box score
The teams traded goals 1:21 apart early in the opening period. After Trinity took a 1-0 lead at the 18:10 mark, the Continentals tied the score on a goal by Halle Becker ‘15. Ali Clarke ’17 received a through ball and fed Becker, who beat Bantam goalkeeper Monica DiFiori ’16 with a close shot.
Hamilton took the lead for good just 2:02 before intermission following a flurry of corner kicks (three in less than two minutes). Becca Rees ’16 played the third corner kick to the far corner where Victoria Freeman ’16 headed the ball to Emily Foley ‘16, who converted the pass for her first career goal.
Katie Kreider ’18 gave the Continentals their third goal 2:31 into the second half, collecting an unsettled ball about 10 yards in front and scoring her first collegiate goal.
The Bantams closed to within a goal in the 74th minute when Elisa Dolan ’15 took a through ball from Alexa Menard ’16 and registered her second goal of the year. Trinity nearly tied the score six minutes later when Kendra Lena ’16 took a long shot (with a strong wind at her back) that went just wide of the far post.
Karyn Barrett ’15 scored Trinity’s initial goal and almost added a second score when a long goal kick by DiFiori set up a breakaway, but her attempt was broken up by a defender with goalkeeper Rachel Cooley ’18 charging out of the net. Cooley, making her collegiate debut, made three saves highlighted by a second-half stop on Lena’s long shot that Cooley tipped over the cross bar.
DiFiori finished with six saves for the Bantams, who were outshot by a 19-9 margin. Hamilton owned a 13-3 advantage in shots in the first half.
With the victory, Hamilton evened the all-time series at 2-2 with the Bantams (1-1-0, 0-1-0), who were also opening their NESCAC season.
The Continentals continue NESCAC competition next weekend, traveling to Bates for an 11 a.m. game Saturday. Trinity hosts Manhattanville in non-conference play Tuesday.
