Women's soccer succumbs

The women’s soccer team endured a tough stretch last week as they suffered bitter defeats against Carnegie Mellon University and Emory University. Both teams are members of the University Athletic Association Conference, a division in which the Yellowjackets are currently 2-2 for the season. The loss to Carnegie Mellon shattered the Yellowjackets’ eight-game unbeaten streak. Scoring for both teams took place solely in the first half. The Tartans scored all three of their goals during the first 23 minutes of play. Junior Adrienne Hulchanski was unable to fend off the Tartans’ demanding offense.The Tartans scored quickly in the first half, only 49 seconds into the game. The Tartans carried the early lead and yet continued to pound the Yellowjacket defense.The Yellowjackets were able to tie the game at 8:45 when sophomore Emily Urbanczyk shot the ball into the net unassisted off of a direct kick. Urbanczyk netted her sixth goal of the season, which leads the team.This, however, would be the only goal for the Yellowjackets this game.The score would not stand as the Tartans broke the tie two minutes after Urbancyzk’s goal.The Tartans continued to pressure the defense with a multitude of shots on goal. The defense surrendered another goal to the Tartans resulting in the final score of 3-1, in favor of the Tartans.At the 30-minute mark, freshman Mary Leitch replaced Hulchanski in the net. Leitch finished the game with eight saves, allowing no goals hoping to give the Yellowjackets a chance at victory. However, the Yellowjackets were held to just three shots on goal during the second half.The game against Emory University resulted in a crushing defeat. The Yellowjackets surrendered the lone goal of the game at a time in which only three minutes remained during the regular game.Leitch’s performance against the Tartans earned her a start in net against Emory. This was her first varsity start in goal and she took advantage of the opportunity by saving six. The final game of this week took place at Nazareth College against a team not competing in the UAA conference. Despite this fact, the Yellowjackets achieved victory which ended their two road-game losing streak. The Yellowjackets struck first in the game at the start of the second half. Senior Laura Tobias connected with freshman Darby Grant to give the Yellowjackets a 1-0 lead.Nazareth evened the score five minutes later, but that would be the only goal Leitch would surrender.The Yellowjackets broke the tie 30 minutes later when a pass by Grant located senior Portia Bridges. The goal gave the Yellowjackets the final score of 2-1. The Yellowjackets will take their game on the road again this week. However, the two games scheduled will be against teams not participating in the UAA division. Serafini can be reached at jserafini@campustimes.org.