Syracuse Women’s Soccer Plays to a 1-1 Draw With Quinnipiac
By Cole Purvis | @Cole_Purvis
HAMDEN, CT – Syracuse women’s soccer (3-1-1) drew with Quinnipiac (0-2-1) in a dramatic finish on Thursday afternoon.
The first half lacked a ton of activity, with just three shots on goal combined between the two teams. QU senior Milena Branco controlled the pace, firing off an early shot, and seeming to be at the forefront of all the Bobcats’ opportunities.
SU’s first shot on goal came by way of freshman Julia Arbelaez, who shot low center. Although Quinnipiac keeper Gwen Hoyt stopped it, that shot got the Syracuse offense into the swing of things.
After one half, it was a 0-0 tie, with each back line doing its part to keep the ball out of danger.
The second half featured Branco early and often once again. The senior ripped a free kick from distance, and placed it effectively, in the upper 90, but Syracuse goalie Shea Vanderbosch leaped up to make the save. Branco immediately booted a corner kick which was headed out of the box. Although it was an empty possession, it was already the second corner of the half for Quinnipiac, which is more than it had in the first 45 minutes.
In the 60th minute, another SU freshman found a good opportunity. Abby Incorvaia received a pass on the right side, and shot from a 45 degree angle, but Hoyt got her body in front of it and knocked the ball away.
The best chance for Syracuse came in the 68th minute. Midfielder Gabby Wisbeck fired a hard shot that ricocheted off of Hoyt and right to senior Mia Klammer, who was wide open on the doorstep. Klammer headed the ball off the top of the crossbar, and the ball stayed out of goal, keeping it a 0-0 tie.
Then, with things seeming to be headed towards a draw, Quinnipiac struck. Senior Madison Alves received a corner from freshman Corey Anderson. Alves made an athletic play, twisting her body in the air and getting her right foot on the ball. The shot got past Vanderbosch, and Quinnipiac led 1-0.
Under two minutes later, grad student Ashley Rauch’s free kick bent towards the box, and Klammer, who nearly had a goal earlier in the half, headed the ball into the net to knot the game up at 1-1.
The teams traded possessions until the final minute, when ‘Cuse put as much pressure on the net as possible. The final minute featured two corners, and with ten seconds left, Arbelaez’s corner found Klammer, who once again headed it home. However, the officials called offside, much to the dismay of head coach Nicky Thrasher Adams, who disputed the call. Her attempt was unsuccessful, and the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
It’s a game that SU would like to have back, although it did get at least a result. However, the Orange must put this behind them when they travel to New Jersey to play Princeton on Sunday.
