VERONICA ECKART
STAFF WRITER
This Saturday at home, the Lady Barons won their first conference match of the season and shut down Medaille with a 3-0 win to the delight of the crowded stands.
The match started off with a grueling first half, with both teams fighting the rain-soaked and muddy field for control of the ball. Despite the efforts of both teams, the scoreboard remained blank until junior midfielder Sarah Cocozza scored in the 42nd minute and brought the lead into Franciscan’s hands. Senior midfielder Elizabeth Dawyot stepped up to take what appeared to be a direct kick on goal, but she surprised the other team’s defense by sending a short pass instead to Cocozza, who struck the ball just inside the post and past the goalkeeper to put the Lady Barons on the scoreboard with her first goal of the season.
The Lady Barons went into the half with a 1-0 lead but came out of the break hungrier to score. In the 51st minute, Dawyot followed up with a shot on goal, only to be blocked by a close save from Medaille’s goalkeeper. However, only five minutes later she was able to capitalize, dribbling the ball into the box and past the goalkeeper to score, exhilarating the full stands.
“Sarah Cocozza got the player of the match,” said Head Coach Bernardo Gonzalez. “Everyone played super well but she went above and beyond. She really controlled the middle with tackles, connecting (passes) to feet, and obviously netting that first goal.”
In the 59th minute, sophomore forward Gracie Tillman scored Franciscan’s final goal off of another assist from Dawyot, shooting the ball into the left side of the net past Medaille’s keeper. This would bring the score to a 3-0 shutout the Lady Barons would hold until the end of the match.
Looking back on the game, Gonzalez said, “I think always getting that first goal is a big boost. It is a conference game and it is always good to get that first win and step in the right direction. It is good to celebrate this and feel good about it but also to come back on Monday ready to work. This was a good match to get a win before we go in to our next games with confidence that we can play the game we can play so well.”
The Lady Barons look to keep up their momentum in their next home game on Wednesday, Oct. 3 against the La Roche Cardinals.