Right here at our very own Sandy MacAllaster Field, the St. Lawrence University women’s soccer team all sported pink socks this past Saturday. By the entrance to the field, members of our Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) sold pink t-shirts next to the concession stand. Out on the hill opposite from the bleachers, “The Power of Pink” was written in white spray paint around a printed card-stock picture of a pink ribbon. All of which reminded us that this game was more than just an opportunity for the Saints to keep their Liberty League dreams from falling away.
This game was played for the Gouverneur Breast Cancer Fund, a corporation that supports patients diagnosed with breast cancer in the Quad-county area, making this game all the more important for our Saints. Keelin Hurtts ‘22 said, “this game was played for a purpose that was greater than ourselves, and a cause that affects so many.”
At the same time, there was also ground to pick up after losing in the last second to the Vassar Brewers the day before.
That Friday, at cold, cloudy Sandy MacAllaster Field, our scoreboard read:1-1, and the Brewers were given a corner kick with six seconds left on the clock. They all packed into the Saints’ box, and when the cross came in through, Gabi Tulk ‘22 headed the ball past goalie Cynnie White ‘21, robbing the Saints of their well-earned tie and putting them at risk of losing a playoff position.
Earlier in the first half, our Saints had a goal you couldn’t dream of. At minute 37, Tori Daley ‘21 launched an in-the-air pass to Katie Clemmer ‘21 at the top of the Brewers’ box, which Clemmer volleyed over a defender’s head and struck midair, sending the ball screaming into the left side of the Brewers’ net.
Then Saturday came along, and our Saints were back and marching in, wearing their pink socks and white home jerseys with “Saints” written on the back. They all huddled together and shouted,“Saints on three. One. Two. Three. SAINTS!” When they took to their positions, the crowd reciprocated, “Lets go Saints! Here we go Saints!”
Immediately, things shot out of the bag. Just minutes in, left-mid, Julia Mulhern ‘21 delivered a textbook cross over to Emily Wade ‘19 inside the box and Wade had a shot, which rattled just wide of the Raptors’ goal post.
Our Saints were going to work out there. They knocked the ball around with quick, smooth movements and darted through-balls all over the Raptors’ half. And soon, more shots rang out.
19 minutes in, Natani Kent-Earle ‘23 maneuvered the ball around a defender at the top of the Raptors’ box, and fired a vicious grounder on goal. But, somehow, Raptor’s goalkeeper Abigail Stanley ‘21 was there.
The Raptor’s keeper was everywhere, actually. The Saints were sending shots blazing by, but somehow Stanley snagged them all. You could imagine smoke steaming off of her gloves.
Towards the end of the first half, with only 12 minutes left, defender, Emma Garret ‘21 sprang up from midfield, and bolted down the field to have a go at the goal, from way behind the 18 yard line. The shot was on par, but, by some odd luck, Stanley kept the ball out of harms way for the Raptors. Fans on the bleachers commented, “How did that not go in?”
Many attempts were made and all the while, the Saints’ defense became a barrier that the Raptors could not get past. The ball was consistently kept in the Raptors’ half, and goalie Samantha Allen ‘20, was there for the saves. Still, there was urgency for the Saints.
With nine minutes to go, Allen shouted, “C’mon guys, we have to win this.” And she was right. They had to win, and time was running out.
A minute later, as if in response, Keelin Hurts ‘22 snagged the ball while rolling out of the Raptors’ box, and swung it around for a lighting bolt of a shot at the upper right corner post, which cracked against Stanley’s hands. But still: no goal.
The half ended, and fans were saying, “0-0 still, and they had like 20 shots on goal.” When the second half came along, things slowed down. Many miscalculated passes were picked off by the Raptors, and the Saints weren’t getting as enough shots on goal. And they needed this goal.
In the 74th minute, the Saints were bringing the ball up the line, and players on the Saints’ bench shouted, “Right here, right now!”
A minute later, two minutes after being subbed onto the field, Isabel Silvia ‘22 put the Saints onto the score board. While the Saints raced down the field, Mulhern ‘21 was sent a through-ball past two defenders by the right goal post, and weaved a pass past the Raptors’ defense to Silvia, who, on her first touch, drove it into the net.
Fans from the bleachers cheered on, and our Saints in their pink socks brought it in, celebrating Silvia’s fourth goal of the season, this won the game for our Saints, and kept their playoff- season dreams alive.
After the game, Keelin Hurtts ‘23 said, “Although it would have been nice to put a few more away, a win was what we needed as a team to try and secure a playoff spot. We are extremely thankful for everyone who came to out game and supported Power of Pink week on campus.”
Right now, the Liberty League conference standings have the Saints sitting behind RIT, tied for third place with Ithaca and Vassar. Over the next few weeks, the Saints will be taking on the Skidmore Thoroughbreds and Clarkson Golden Knights, before playing, currently ranked #1, William Smith Herons in November, right here at Sandy MacAllaster Field.