This past weekend, the Case Western Reserve University women’s soccer team solidified their spot as a top 10 nationally ranked Division III team with their draw with No. 3-ranked Christopher Newport University and 6-0 shutout against Ohio Northern University.

Friday’s game played at Ohio Wesleyan University against Christopher Newport was a highly anticipated matchup for the Spartans. Fourth-year forward Andrea Silva commented on the team’s energy going into the game and the significance of the win.

“Friday was a huge game that’s been on our calendar. A lot of people have been looking forward to it for months,” Silva said. “We went in with a very strong game plan and very confident in the way that we want to play. And I think we executed that really well. To be honest, we went in, and in my opinion, I think we outplayed them. We kept them to one nothing for a really long time.”

Fourth-year co-captain and midfielder Jamie Goldfarb also shared similar sentiments.

“We knew going in that Christopher Newport would be one of the toughest opponents we’ve faced, so our focus was on doing the little things right—sticking to the game plan, trusting our scout and each other, and not playing scared,” Goldfarb said. “We treated it as an opportunity to measure ourselves against one of the nation’s best, and the atmosphere was really exciting. It reminded us of why we love playing at this level, and I was really proud of how the team showed up and played for each other.”

During the first half, the two teams went back and forth with Christopher Newport outshooting CWRU 9 to 5. However, second-year goalkeeper Ellie Palaian recorded 2 saves to keep the score tied at 0-0. During the 63rd minute, fourth-year forward Alexis Sassower fired a strike to the upper corner of the net to put the Spartans up on the board. Twenty minutes later, the Captains scored an equalizer on a free kick, resulting in a tie between the No. 8-ranked Spartans and No. 3-ranked Christoper Newport.

With the Spartans usually taking a more offensive approach, Christopher Newport put the team’s defense to test. First-year Mia Modrovich shares her experience as one of the key players on the backline.

“This game was definitely the first big test for our defense, but I think as a unit we really rose to the occasion,” Modrovich said. “We knew we would need to do the little things right as our coach always says, and I think we did just that. We were constantly communicating and working through problems as they came up. We were moving the ball quickly throughout the back and keeping our composure to stay in control of the game. It was truly such a great experience, and the determination everyone showed on the field made it clear how much potential we have to achieve something special this season.”

Overall, CWRU outshot Christopher Newport 19–14, becoming just the second team since 2019 to do so. Sassower’s goal marked the first conceded by Christopher Newport this season, snapping a shutout streak of more than 420 minutes to start the year.

The following Sunday, the Spartans finished their five-game road stretch against Ohio Northern University with a 6-0 victory over the Polar Bears.

The dominating win began with fourth-year midfielder Ceci Dapino scoring just 77 seconds into the game. Goldfarb later notched two consecutive goals in the first half to increase the Spartan’s lead, and their domination continued into the second with three more goals by Dapino, Silva and third-year forward Avery Reiman who recorded her first career goal.

The Spartan offense registered 26 shots with 16 on goal, and Palaian made 3 saves to earn her sixth career shutout.

Goldfarb attributes the team’s success to their team dynamic.

“Our offense has really clicked this year because we’ve emphasized movement and trusting ourselves and each other in the final third,” Goldfarb said. “We have multiple players who can step up and score, which makes us tough to defend. Compared to previous years, I think our chemistry is the biggest difference—we have more dynamic movement and different attacking personalities that add to the versatility of our team.”

With these two wins this past weekend, the Spartans moved up three spots in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 ranking to place No. 5 in the nation. They are joined by UAA competitors Emory University, University of Chicago, Washington University in St. Louis, Brandeis University and Carnegie Mellon University in the top 25. The squad has four more non-conference games before hosting the University of Rochester on Oct. 4, including their Senior Day game against Calvin University this Saturday.

“Senior Day is really special: it’s a chance to reflect on the four years I’ve had here and the people who have shaped my journey,” Goldfarb said. “It’s also a really special tribute to everyone in my class who has dedicated so much of their college experience to this team. Playing a home game with my teammates, in front of everyone’s family and friends, means a lot. It’s bittersweet, but I am grateful for everything this program has given me.”

The team will celebrate their nine graduating athletes—defender Emma Struck, Dapino, forward Maggie Farra, Sassower, midfielder Mackenzie Mueller, midfielder/forward Julia Flynn, Silva, Goldfarb and forward Molly Shamah—before the game kicks off at 1 p.m. on DiSanto Field.