The John Carroll Women’s soccer team headed to DiSanto Field on Fri., Sep. 1 to kick off their fall season against Case Western Reserve. A close matchup made for an interesting 90 minutes of top-tier soccer.
The Blue Streaks embraced the tough competition that they were up against. Knowing it was the first game of the season, both teams knew there would be some initial nerves and heightened intensity. Despite a valiant effort, John Carroll’s offensive push couldn’t outlast a high-powered Spartan squad.
Unfortunately, in a narrow manner, John Carroll fell to Case Western by a score of 2-1. Even with a tough loss, John Carroll maintains a positive outlook, fully comprehending that challenging competition will contribute to the development of the team for their future matchups.
By halftime, Case Western was up by one goal, forcing the Blue Streaks to generate chances as quickly as possible. In a swift fashion, John Carroll looked to transition down the field, hoping to catch an unorganized Spartan defense. A singular goal separated the two teams so the Blue and Gold were aiming to even out the score as time ticked off the clock.
But, Case refused to back down. The Spartans managed to slide another shot past Meredith Martin Koiser ‘27, putting John Carroll at a two-goal disadvantage.
Although the Blue Streaks were down by two goals, Sara Gennuso ’27 was able to put one into the right side of the net towards the end of the match, inching closer to an even score. The rookie midfielder tallied her first collegiate goal, showing veterans and other teammates the presence of a strong first-year class.
Emma West ’26 was also able to make her presence known in the midfield position. Regardless of the situation, West was locked in throughout the game. She was persistent, with her eyes on the goal every time she received the ball. Taylor Wohleber ’24, a veteran defender played a significant role in preventing opportunities for the Spartan’s offense.
Despite the loss, Wohleber remained optimistic about how the team looks for the remainder of the season.
“Although we have a lot of new members and our team is very young, we did a great job working and connecting with each other to put up a tough front against Case,” reflected Wohleber. “We never backed down and I think that is a great sign for the future of our season.”
It seems as if the Blue Streaks have a good reason to be excited about the upcoming season, knowing there is young talent that brings a new dynamic to the field.
The Blue and Gold hosted Wittenberg University at Don Shula Stadium on Sept. 6 at 7:00 p.m. Later in the week, the Blue Streaks head to Kenyon College for a tough non-league matchup on Sept. 9 at 1:30 p.m.