Women’s soccer triumphs over the USCGA Bears to secure its first NEWMAC victory

In its third New England Women’s and Men’s Athletics Conference (NEWMAC) game of the season, the Emerson women’s soccer team secured its first league win against the United States Coast Guard Academy at Rotch Field, improving its record to 2-4-4. The final score of 3-0 also marked the Lions’ first shutout win of the season.

Throughout the game, Emerson applied constant pressure on both sides of the ball. While the USCGA Bears ended up firing more shots, 14 total compared to the Lions’ 10, the two teams each had seven shots on goal. However, Emerson was able to convert more shots as he increased the tempo on fast breaks.

“Defense practiced and utilized organized pressing of individual players and small groups of attackers throughout the game,” head coach David Suvak said in an interview with The Beacon. “Sometimes we use the counterpressing principle, other times we use a confrontation line to give the opponent the feeling that they can build up.”

Suvak also spoke about how their attack followed a similar idea of ​​exploiting pressure to create chances.

“In attack, the relentless pursuit is to create scoring opportunities,” Suvak said. “We try to create plays and moments where we can break down to give the opponent the opportunity to penetrate and get behind them. We try to do this by changing the point of attack while trying to advance around, through or over them.”

The first goal came in the 15th minute after junior striker Liane Bezdek received a cross pass from senior midfielder Maddie Khaw and was able to slot the ball right past the goalkeeper. The rest of the first half was back and forth, with all of Emerson’s attempts being ruled offside. Whenever Coast Guard Academy was on the verge of a goal, the Lions were still able to play stifling defense, with senior defender Lauren Larking and senior goalkeeper Amara Schaub making stops.

Coming out of halftime, Emerson seemed a little sluggish and wasn’t playing as aggressively as he had earlier in the game. However, this didn’t last long and the Lions looked for more shots and soon scored their second goal. Bezdek received a short pass from senior defender Jillian Venezia and was able to split the defense en route to her second goal of the game.

Just as the Bears were recovering from the last goal, Bezdek was able to get a pass from the defense and get the ball to Khaw, who slotted it into the top right corner. This goal increased the score to 3-0 and came just two minutes after the previous one.

Two more offside calls gave Emerson more quick breaks, but her defense and accurate passing were able to stall the rest of the game. Fans cheered as the final horn sounded and the Lions’ NEWMAC record now stood at 1-1-1.

After last year’s record of 10-7-2 and narrowly missing the NEWMAC championship game, Emerson is taking each game one at a time to prepare for the playoffs again.

“We are actively pursuing every single result in our effort to advance to the NEWMAC playoffs,” Suvak said. “As the season progresses, we get closer to our team goal with every positive result.”

On Wednesday, October 9, the Lions took on Salve Regina at home, where they won 2-0 in another NEWMAC showdown. This Saturday, October 12, Emerson travels to Norton to take on Wheaton College in hopes of extending its two-game winning streak.