After starting the season 0-2 and then winning their third game, the team hoped to catch another W to get up to .500.
On Sept.19 they played Bethesda-Chevy Chase at home to take on the Barons and got off to a hot start when senior Julia Stern scored off a penalty corner rebound. The rest of the first half favored the Pats, and although they weren’t able to score again the team kept the pressure on.
In the second half BCC adopted a more offensive strategy and were able to net the equalizer off a penalty shot. The rest of regulation was a back and forth affair but neither team was able to pull ahead, sending the game into overtime where BCC eventually scored to win on a penalty corner.
The squad looked to rebound at Whitman on Sept. 23, but the game did not go as planned. Whitman played great offense to net two goals in the first half and send the Patriots into the break down 2-0. The second half brought out a more aggressive approach from the team, and their effort was rewarded when star junior Caity Greenspun scored by deflecting a ball off a corner. They remained on the attack in an attempt to score a game-tying goal, but were unsuccessful and lost the game 1-2.
Next on the schedule was a match against Walter Johnson on Sept. 26. Goals were hard to come by in a game that ended up being a slugfest with great defensive efforts from both sides. WJ scored in the first half and that was the only shot that got past either keeper all day in a low scoring affair that ended in a 0-1 loss for the Patriots.
In the midst of a three-game skid, the squad met Poolesville at home on Sept. 29 desperate for a win. After being blanked in their previous contest the goals flowed fast and furious for the Pats in the first half as they jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first half thanks to two goals from Greenspun. The second period opened with more of the same as senior Jordyn Taylor scored at the end of a great passing sequence. Poolesville rallied with two goals to bring the score to 3-2, but it was too little too late and the Patriots were able to walk away with a W. “We played a really good game and we worked well as a team. I’m really excited to move further into the season,” senior captatin Amanda Jordan said.
With five games left on their slate, a positive record is still within reach, and they hope they can use the victory against Poolesville to spark a win streak. “After a couple unlucky games, we’ve finally gotten our groove back,” senior goalkeeper Alyssa Robinson said.
Their next game was against Churchill at home on Oct. 4, too late for this issue. After they faced off against their rivals, the team faced off against Northwood at home on Oct. 6., also too late for this issue
Peter Hechler
Managing Editor