The Colby Echo

Issue date: 9/23/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: file photo

Coming off their last New England Small College Athletic Conference match, a 1-0 loss at Tufts University on Sept. 13, the Colby women's soccer team traveled to Hartford, Conn. on Saturday, Sept. 20 to face Trinity College with redemption on its minds. Last season, the Mules and Bantams played to a 0-0 tie in Waterville after two tight overtime periods. On Saturday, the script was familiar with the game going into overtime knotted in a scoreless stalemate. However, Colby broke through in the first overtime period for a crucial 1-0 win.

The game-winning goal was scored by first-year Julie Denison, a mid-fielder from Northbrook, Ill. It was the first collegiate goal for Denison, coming at 4:30 into the first overtime period.
"The goal was off a turnover by their defense," said Colby Head Coach Jen Holsten to Sports Information Director William Sodoma. "Julie was inside the 18-yard line on the left side and shot it inside the near post. She buried it and we charged the field."

Although Trinity dominated ball possession in the first half with nine shots on net, Colby goalkeeper Loni Pisani '11 saved every one. In the second half, Trinity even had a chance to put the game away with a penalty kick with nine seconds left. However, Bantam sophomore Caroline Washburne shot the ball over the crossbar, which forced the game into overtime, and subsequently Denison's winner found pay dirt for the Mules.
For her efforts against Trinity and earlier in the week in Colby's 1-0 OT victory over the University of New England, Pisani was named NESCAC Co-Player of the Week. Against UNE, she stopped seven shots in the shutout and then in Hartford posted 10 saves despite taking on 21 shots from the Bantams. Pisani has not allowed a goal in 231 minutes of play so far this season.

The win against Trinity moved the Mules to 4-1 overall on the season and 1-1 in the NESCAC, tying them for second in the conference standings with Middlebury College (2-3-2 overall, 1-1-0 NESCAC). Colby hosts the Panthers this weekend on Saturday, Sept. 27 in its first home conference game of the season, which begins a streak of three straight home conference games (with Williams College and Wesleyan University up next).

The Mules' victory over the Bantams already surpasses last season's conference win total. Last year, the team tied two NESCAC opponents, Connecticut College and Trinity (as mentioned before), yet were not able to clinch a playoff berth. Saturday's win is promising for the squad because it comes so early in the season with a bevy of conference games left on the schedule.

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