The Continental women’s soccer team has gotten off to a strong start this fall and currently stand at 2–1 (1–1 NESCAC) due in part to the impressive contributions of the team’s large first-year class.
The season opener on Wednesday, Sept. 4 against Williams College — who are currently ranked №1 in the Division III Preseason Poll after winning the 2018 NCAA DIII Championship — unfortunately ended as a 2–4 loss. Nonetheless, parts of the game showed great promise for the rest of the season; both of Hamilton’s goals were scored by first-year players (Hyla Mosher ’23 and Caroline Dawson ’23) and Caity Smith ’22 had four saves in the second half.
The following Saturday, Sept. 7, the team went up against another NESCAC rival, Bates College, on Hamilton’s Love Field. The Continentals were in control from the beginning, scoring four goals in the first half alone. The first came from last season’s leading scorer Cat Gambino ’21, who found the net 12 minutes into the game. Gambino’s goal was assisted by Kristin Hughes ’20, who finished the game with two assists overall.
The following three goals were scored by Kayleigh Harris ’20, Mosher ’23, and Mackenzie Christensen ’22. Around six minutes into the second half, Hamilton went up 5–0 after captain Alex Fontana ’20 drew a foul and scored on her penalty kick. The Bobcats finally got one shot past goalkeeper Rachel Pike ’21 later in the half, but the final score ended with a dominating 6–1 Hamilton victory after Bella Roselli ’22 scored with less than three minutes remaining. Hamilton ended up taking 30 shots during the game, compared to only four shots by Bates.
Women’s soccer had their third game within a week on Tuesday, Sept. 10, against a non-conference opponent, SUNY Oswego. The team posted another strong win by a score of 4–0. All four goals were scored by different Hamilton players.
Gambino ’21 scored first again in the 7th minute, with an assist from Dawson ’23. Harris ’20 assisted the second goal, which was finished by Ashlyn Gaulin ’23 for the first goal of her career. Mosher ’23 scored Hamilton’s third of the game with a header; it was also her own third goal of the season so far, which currently leads the team. The final goal was another first career goal, this time for Allie Reed ’23 and assisted by fellow first-year Rylie Mutton ’23.
The combination of precocious play by the team’s first years and the veteran skill of the returners makes for exciting prospects for the squad as they head into their next NESCAC match-ups.
Make sure to come support the Continentals at their next home game this Saturday, Sept. 14 against Amherst College at 11:00 A.M on Love Field.
