By Sean Savage
@SavSean13
It was a Wednesday night at Brock Affleck-Field as the Springfield College women’s soccer team battled Worcester Polytechnic Institute in a 90-minute matchup, where no team was able to grab a deciding goal in a game that ended 1-1.
“We came in ready to compete,” Springfield head coach Kristin Cannon said. “WPI is always a really tough opponent.”
Seven minutes into the match, Engineers forward Hannah Wolfgang set the tone.
She opened her body to face the goal as she received the ball near the top of the box. Wolfgang gained her balance and ripped a shot, which sailed just over the woodwork.
Three minutes later, Kaitlyn Suller got the ball and darted through the middle of the pitch, keeping the ball close and then picking her head up to slot Meredith Healy in on goal.
However, the shot hardly tested Lili Hellerman, as it fell right to her.
The game was a back-and-forth battle – with both teams playing at lightning speed – until WPI earned its first free-kick of the night with 18 minutes left until the half.
The ball laid right over midfield and to the right, where Jess English prepared to send in a threat. With English’s hands on her hips, she scanned her options and struck a brilliant pass that curled to Springfield goalkeeper Taryn Ryan’s far post and bounced around, before meeting Olivia Toolin’s foot at the top of the box, who hit a half volley that glided into the net.
But, the Pride did not go anywhere.
In fact, Suller would send another teammate in on goal at the 33-minute mark.
This time, Natalya Pennant received the through ball through Suller’s midfield mastery. Pennant got the ball as she flew in from the right flank and tried to finesse it past Hellerman. The ball snuck by her, but it rolled wide of the net.
The half ended in each team having three shots on goals and one corner.
“We tried to let them settle in,” Cannon said. “We had to change the energy a little bit, which they did.”
Nine minutes into the second half, Madisyn Bagby had a look that left the crossbar reverberating.
Later, the Engineers earned a throw-in down the left side of the pitch that pulled Pride defender Maddie Daigneault out of position.
Bagby took advantage of the opportunity, running with the ball before cutting in to sit at the top of the box, where she hit the shot that curled top right.
In the 64th minute, the Pride finally found the goal they were looking for.
Sonia Dugger had the ball at midfield. Picking up her head, she found her target and lofted a ball that sailed into the box.
Kate Minoudis ran onto the pass, leaped into the air and headed the ball into the back of the net. The pass was clinical, forcing Hellerman off her line and leaving an empty net for the header.
Each team had one more dangerous chance in the game.
The Engineers had a free kick, and Bagby sent a ball that found its way to the top of the 18-yard box. Madison Shaw lunged to hit the ball, which deflected for a corner. The ball might have seen the back of the net without the deflection.
With eight minutes left, Kayla McGrath ripped a shot that Hellerman was able to save at her near post, but the deflection bounced to the unmarked Marissa Martino. She hit a shot that dialed left, but Hellerman was there once again.
With the draw, the Pride’s record comes to 7-4-3 while picking up its first tie in conference play.
“We are going to work on our brand of soccer and the consistency of that message,” Cannon said. “There are no easy opponents or matches; every game is a battle and fight.”
On Saturday, Oct. 21, the Pride will travel to face Wellesley in their third consecutive conference match, where they will look to gain ground in the standings.
Photo: Springfield College Athletics