Shannon KeoughIt was a game of heart. Both teams battling and fighting for the win. The Cabrini College women’s soccer team played Eastern University on Tuesday, Sept. 15 in a game that pushed these two teams to their give their all on every play.
The game started strong for both teams with big runs into each end. Nothing came of those strikes, but further into the first half Eastern struck, putting the Eagles on the scoreboard first.
In true Cabrini fashion, instead of backing down, the women’s team stormed back. Off of a corner kick Sammy Thompson, sophomore exercise science and health promotion major, redirected the ball into the back of the net with a great header to the back post. This strong Cavalier team showed that they still had the will to win.
Tragedy struck home half way through the first half when captain Sabina DeGisi, senior communication major, went out with an injury and was unable to play the rest of the game.
This forced head coach Ken Prothero to substitute some players into new unfamiliar positions. Prothero said after the game that the fewer number of substitutes later forced players to stay on the field even when in need of a break.
Soon into the second half, the Eagles scored again with a crisp passing play that looked like the team that had made it to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament not even a year ago.
This could have stopped any team in its tracks, but the Cavaliers saw this as a wake up call.
With a little more than 20 minutes left in the game freshman midfielder Dana Drake showed what she could contribute. Drake found Annmarie Kolla, junior early childhood education major, with a cross that Kolla directed into the back of the net.
This cut the Eagles’ lead down to only a goal and strengthened the Cavaliers desire for a victory.
The rest of the game had a feel of a professional match because of the intensity and skill of both teams.
Unfortunately, the Cavaliers were unable to find the back of the net again, though they never stopped trying with countless strike after strike.
This deeply rooted rivalry is felt in every game that Cabrini and Eastern play, and this game had no exception.
There were hard fault balls in the corners, and battles for center ground on the field.
Along with great plays, there were also plays stopped short by some questionable calls by the referees. Nonetheless, the Cavaliers never stopped moving their feet and never gave up the fight.
After the game, Prothero said that he was very proud of the team and that he was very enthused with the effort that everyone gave. Cabrini is now looking onward to Saturday, Sept. 19, where they will face Arcadia, another very physical and skilled team, at home at 4 p.m.
This Cavalier team is very strong and will never stop moving their feet. They are now looking to focus on rebounding strongly against there next opposing team and they plan to keep their eyes on a win against Arcadia instead of dwelling on this tough loss.
