Spartans’ 1-2-1 record tied for fifth in UAA with three to go 

The Case Western Reserve University women’s soccer team went on the road last weekend to continue its conference slate against the Eagles of Emory University and the Tartans of Carnegie Mellon University. In perhaps the toughest weekend on the schedule, the Spartans dropped their first match Friday night against the Eagles and came up short against the Tartans.

The Eagles are the top-ranked women’s soccer team nationally in Division III and came into Friday’s match with only three ties keeping them from a perfect record so far on the season. The Eagles also sit tied atop the UAA with Washington University with a record of 3-0-1 in the conference.

Currently ranked no. 21 nationally, the Tartans sit directly behind Washington and Emory at third in the UAA.

The Spartans, who were coming into the match against Emory with a five-game winning streak, including four shutouts in a row, were unable to match the offensive production of the Eagles, who scored three times in the first half off en route to a 5-0 win.

The Eagles came out firing with two shots and two corner kicks before the five-minute mark. Each of these shots was deflected before they had a chance to get past freshman goalkeeper Megan Romelfanger. After several more close calls, including a spectacular save of a well-placed Eagles shot, the Spartans weren’t able to get in front of a shot by Emory forward Veronica Romero in the 17th minute.

Emory added two more goals 12 and 24 minutes later to take a commanding lead over the Spartans. The Eagles held the clear advantage on corner kicks during the first half, getting six opportunities to score, while only giving one opportunity to the Spartans. The second goal of the game came off one such corner, when Emory’s Katy Kruse was able to deflect a header into the net.

Two days later, the Spartans traveled to Pittsburgh, Pa. to take on a Carnegie Mellon team that had lost only a single game up to this point in the season. The Spartans, perhaps worn out from the match against Emory, dropped their second match of the weekend 3-1.

The match started out with both teams looking for an early advantage. Just eight minutes into the game, Carnegie Mellon found the back of the net with a diagonal cross in front of Case’s goal, which was nailed in by Carnegie Mellon’s Brianna Magill.

The Spartans, looking to start quicker than they had against the Eagles, evened the score just 12 minutes later on a set piece, something that had previously been used against them previously in the season. Taking the free kick was freshman Kate Dolansky, who placed the ball perfectly into the box where fellow defender Maeve Goede was able to use her height to head the Spartans back into a tie with the Tartans.

With the assist, Dolansky got the first points of her college career and was able to set up Goede with her second goal of the season. Unfortunately, Goede’s goal wasn’t enough, as the Tartans took the lead for good five minutes later with a one-timer to the lower corner of the net. Despite picking up the pace in the second half and earning three corner kicks, the Spartans were unable to find the back of the net again.

With the pair of losses, the Spartans fell to 7-4-3 on the season and 1-2-1 in the UAA. The Spartans play their last non-conference game over fall break against Kenyon College before they finish up their season with three straight games against UAA opponents, including No. 5 Washington.