The Elizabethtown College Blue Jays overcame the Stevenson University women’s soccer team last Saturday with a final score of 1-0.
The match happened on a warm, humid and sunny day at Etown’s Ira R. Herr Field.
The Blue Jays kept the pressure on the Mustangs throughout the first half. The ball constantly stayed near the opponent’s goal as Elizabethtown players attempted shot after shot, ending the game with 30 shots to Stevenson’s three. They would have no success with these efforts though, as the opposition managed to keep the ball out of their net, managing seven saves on the day.
The Mustangs eventually pushed back, as play semi-frequently shifted between the two goals as the first half continued. Senior Goalies Adrienne McGallicher and Rena Rankin only needed one save between them, as the Etown’s pesky defense kept the pressure on. The Blue Jays couldn’t land a goal, and the Mustangs could barely shoot for one.
The tension continually rose as each team tried to out-strategize each other with frequent swaps. However, both goalies continued their incredible play, making save after save. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays preserved their momentum from the start despite the Mustangs’ pushback. By halftime, they had made eight times as many shots as the Mustangs did.
Senior Blue Jay Elizabeth Rajnik capitalized on this momentum by passing the ball under one of Stevenson’s players , and Elizabethtown senior Olivia Myer almost broke the tie with a curved shot before the first half ended.
“I really like that our girls put in so much effort and withstood the aggressive plays from the other teams,” one Etown fan said.
Play continued like this into the start of the second half, and the tie remained unbroken for roughly an hour.
The game’s first and only goal occurred with roughly 33 minutes remaining, thanks to junior midfielder Jenna Hoffmann.
The game settled back into a similar stalemate throughout its second half, as neither team could successfully maneuver around the other.
The Mustangs almost scored a goal with 12 minutes left, but McGallicher blocked the shot and kept the Blue Jays in the lead.
“I couldn’t have done it without the rest of the team,” Hoffmann said. “We all worked really well together, and we couldn’t have had that outcome without everyone’s hard work.”
The game raised the Blue Jays’ season record to 3-1-1 and shifted Stevenson University’s record to 1-3-1.
The women’s soccer team currently stands at 4-1-1 after a match against the Lancaster Bible College Chargers ended in a win, and they will stand off against the St. Mary’s College Seahawks on their home field this upcoming Saturday.
