The Elizabethtown College men’s and women’s soccer teams wrote the final chapter of their 2023 regular seasons on Saturday, Oct. 28 at home in Elizabethtown, Pa. on Ira R. Herr Field.
The men’s team opened the day at 1 p.m., and once the game wrapped up, the scoreboard still read 0-0. Very little happened on the offensive end, as both goalkeepers recorded a clean sheet. Etown’s graduate student goalkeeper Kelvin Del Cid recorded five saves.
As the first half opened, things got dicey early for Etown. In the first 20 minutes, Lycoming College dominated the offensive side. However, Etown’s defense did a tremendous job of keeping their side clear. In the 24th minute, junior midfielder Pedro Guizardi had a dream opportunity from the penalty spot. He unleashed a strike on the net, but Lycoming’s goalie made the save to keep it knotted up at zero. Each side found a couple more chances for the rest of the half, but both goalies proved to be in form, each making saves of their own.
The second half was much of the same. The defensive battle was a bit more physical, as things got chippy in the 60th minute. Three yellow cards were given out, two going to the Lycoming side and one to a Blue Jay. Once the 70th minute hit, both sides made numerous substitutions from that point on, getting fresh legs on the field in hopes of a chance on the offensive end. Neither team found that chance though, drawing at zero.
This tie moves the men’s team to 8-6-3 for the season. They earned a spot in the Landmark Conference Championships and played their quarterfinal matchup against Goucher College on Tuesday, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m.
The women’s team came out victorious in a crucial game on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. with a 3-0 shutout win. This win clinched a playoff berth for the Jays, moving to 5-8-3 this season. Sophomore midfielder Jenna Hoffman, sophomore defensive midfielder Caleigh Bold and junior defensive midfielder Elizabeth Rajnik scored in this one. Junior goalkeepers Adrienne McGallicher and Rena Rankin combined to post a clean sheet.
The first half was a strong start for the Blue Jays, putting pressure on the opposition early and often. They’d let seven shots fly in this half and would find success in the 28th minute. Bold’s goal set the tone for Etown and was also her first goal of the season. Junior midfielder Marissa Vandernick earned the assist. McGallicher only had to make one save in the early going, keeping Lycoming off the board with a late save in the 42nd minute. That was it for their first-half scoring, but they would find their rhythm in the second half.
10 minutes into the half, Hoffman notched her sixth goal of the season, scoring off another assist from Vandernick and senior defensive midfielder Bailey Groff. McGallicher made two more saves this half before Rankin came in to finish the job. Later, another first for the Blue Jays was celebrated with a goal from Rajnik in the 78th minute. Her strike was assisted by senior midfielder Maddie McWhinney. That was all she wrote, and the Blue Jays celebrated a playoff berth in this year’s Landmark Conference Championships.
On Tuesday, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. the women’s team made its way to Bethlehem, Pa. for their quarterfinal matchup with Moravian University.
Congratulations to both teams on their playoff berths, and best of luck in the Landmark Conference Championships.
