Women’s Soccer Loses Last Game of Season, But Team is Hopeful For the Future

Author: Jack Ridenour

On November 2, the Women’s Soccer team finished their season with a loss against the Thomas More College Saints, in the first game of the playoffs. The Saints came into the game 9-0 in conference play and 20-0-1 in the season, and first in the conference. The Cougars entered the contest 6-3 in conference play, an overall record of 11-5-2 and fourth in the conference.

Contine reading

Soccer team ends season with a loss

On Halloween, the Chatham Cougars Women’s Soccer team played their final game of the season versus Grove City. Being the final game of the, the Cougars just had to play their best and try for that ninth win. However, the Cougars didn’t come away with the results they wanted overall. The Women’s Soccer team lost 0-4, giving them a season score of 8 wins and 8 losses.

As they played against the Wolverines of Grove City, the Cougars were outshot eight to 23, had one corner to Grove City’s four, and had eight saves to Grove City’s four. Being the end of the season this gives the athletes time to wind down and shift focus to other matters of the school year, whether that be another sport, a new club, or just focusing on their school work even more.

With the end results of this game, it brings Chatham to the close of the best season in the school’s history for any Women’s Soccer team. Head Coach Betsy Warren and the rest of the team says goodbye to seniors Sarah Jugovic (Pittsburgh, PA) and Auralia Henderson (Palmyra, PA) as the prepare to graduate and continue onward to their futures.

As a head coach, however, Warren has already begun to lay the groundwork for the 2016-2017 season. With soccer getting its share of recruits, like with any other sport, there could be potential for an even better record next season.

To see the results of any of the Cougar Soccer games from over the season visit GoChathamCougars.com.

Women’s soccer team hits a brief rough patch

The Chatham Cougars Women’s Soccer team hit a two game downhill slide. The first of the back to back losses came against the Thomas More, a nationally ranked team, on October 11. The Cougars were out-shot 19 to 3, and they lost the number of corner kicks at 11-0 and shots on goals. The Thomas More Saints won this match 0-7, leading the Cougars to suffer one of their hardest losses this season.

The second loss of the week came against the Golden Tornadoes of Geneva on October 14. It was a very close game, with the Cougars leading in goals for the majority of the game. It came close with Geneva scoring a goal within the final seconds of the game. This gave Geneva the win with a score of 4-5.

The game against Geneva was not without a stellar performance from the Cougars. First-year Emmory Tardivo saved 11 goals, sophomore Megan Sieg scored one goal and had two assists, first-year Kassianna Politis scored one goal and had one assist, and first-year Julie Bruening had one goal.

After a 3-0 win against Thiel on October 17, the Cougars record stands at 8-4 overall and 2-3 in the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference.

Athlete profile: Julie Bruening

First year Julie Bruening, from Madison Ohio, has dedicated most of her life to the sport of soccer. This year has been slightly different. There are still the early or late practices, the tough coaches, and the intense competition, but now she is living with her teammates instead of just playing with them.

Bruening has been receiving quite a bit of attention recently as an athlete at Chatham. She has been named PAC Offensive Player of the Week, is currently tied with junior Skylar Benjamin for most goals in a game at four apiece, has scored ten goals overall this season so far, and has been recognized by NCAA as the top scorer of points per game in Division III Women’s Soccer.

“I’m really happy to have all these things, but it wasn’t just me. If it wasn’t for my teammates backing me up and the coaches supporting me, I probably wouldn’t have gotten this far,” Bruening said. “I think that you have to try your best because you know that the team has your back and that you have theirs. Teamwork really does make the dream work.”

Bruening continues to play during the season, while balancing a personal and academic life. In her free time, she likes to hang out with her friends and teammates.

Chatham women’s soccer team’s success continues

Chatham University is all about setting records and making history. Many people thought males coming to the school would be the biggest historical change of the year, but they were wrong. The women’s soccer team has continued to live up to the standard of excellence that Chatham expects of its student-athletes.

In their game against Washington Adventist, the Cougars succeeded in breaking the school record of goals in a season, which was previously 33. The Cougars have scored 36 goals this season, a number that will only continue to increase as their season goes on.

About breaking the record during her first-year, Kat Luteri said, “It’s a great feeling. Soccer is such a big team sport and the effort of everyone went into getting this far.”

With a 6-1 record in the season so far, the Cougars Women’s Soccer team still has a lot of time to continue to set records and do great things as the season continues into October.

Chatham Cougars finish 2014 volleyball and soccer seasons

Chatham’s soccer and volleyball seasons finished on November 1 and October 30 respectively. Neither team had winning records, but both displayed great performances regardless.

The Chatham soccer team played a total of 18 games from August 29 through November 1, finishing the season with a record of three wins, 15 losses, and no tied games.

All three wins were won at home, making the home record 3-7-0, while the away record was 0-6-0, and games played on neutral territory were 0-2-0. The team attempted nine conference games, but was not able to take home a win at any of them.

The team showed great skill with their offensive players, who averaged a little over one goal per game, as well as averaging 167 shots per game, 99 of those being shots on goal.

Senior Liz Sawyer shone this season as the team’s goalkeeper. Sawyer faced 380 shots and saved 164 of those, bringing her save percentage to .701.

First year Megan Sieg was the team’s shots-on-goal leader, with 43 throughout the season. Sieg played 1631 minutes, and totaled 27 points during the season.

The Chatham volleyball team played at total of 26 games from September 3 through October 30, finishing the season with a record of zero wins and 26 losses.

While the team finished the season with a disappointing record, the Cougars can boast of their team dynamic, always displaying excellent communication, spirit, and sportsmanship.

First year setter, McKenna Gamble, led the Cougars in assists, with a total of 163 during the short season, a staggering number considering the overall number of assists during the season was 180.

Sophomore outside hitter Heathir McIntyre finished off the season with an amazing 219 digs for the team. McIntyre contributed over one-fourth of the 814 digs overall during the season.

The team finished the season with a total of 829 points.

While both teams may have been disappointed by the outcome of their respective seasons, the Cougars have a lot to be proud of, as they displayed wonderful teamwork and effort overall.

Cougars fall to Bearcats in PAC opener

On Saturday, October 5, the Chatham University Cougars hosted the St. Vincent College Bearcats in the first soccer game of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) competition. The Cougars lost 2-0 after a hard-fought battle.

Weather conditions were less than ideal, with the first cold front of the season sweeping through Pittsburgh, as well as a smattering of rain throughout the day.

The first half of the game was scoreless, with senior Liz Sawyer in the goal for Chatham.

Throughout the rest of the game, Sawyer logged 11 saves of the 13 shots that St. Vincent made on the goal. This brings Sawyer’s saves to 97 for the season, including her in the top 15 for NCAA Division III athletics.

In the fifty-first minute of play, Bearcat’s midfielder Amie Dobracki scored, assisted by forward Emily Johns.

The second and final goal of the game came in the sixty-sixth minute of play. Forward Meghan Smith scored the goal.

Chatham made great pushes toward the St. Vincent side of the field, but were unable, in the end, to make any goals. Sophomore forward Skylar Benjamin logged two shots on goal. Senior midfielder Sarah Ellis also had two shots.

First year forward Megan Sieg also had one shot on goal in possibly the best scoring opportunity the Cougars had, but was unable to find the back of the net.

The Cougars will travel to Waynesburg on Wednesday for their next PAC game.

Cougars soccer team falls to La Roche 2-0

On September 24, the Chatham Cougars soccer team fell to the La Roche College Red Hawks 2-0.

This game came after two games that went into overtime. The Cougars brought the same amount of intensity to this game but were, unfortunately, unable to clinch the victory.

Both of the goals by the Red Hawks were scored in the first half by senior Alex Rogers. The first was in the sixth minute, and the second in the eighteenth on a penalty shot.

The Cougar defense successfully deflected any potential goals in the second half, keeping the score 2-0 through the end of the game.

Cougar goalkeeper, senior Liz Sawyer, logged eight saves on ten shots that reached the goal. Sawyer, prior to this game, was the ninth ranked goaltender in the nation for Division III saves.

Red Hawk goalie Destiny Davis logged her first shutout game of the season.

Chatham first year Megan Sieg nearly scored a corner kick directed to her by senior Sarah Ellis, but that shot was unfortunately deflected by Rogers.

The loss was a blow to Chatham’s record for this season so far, bringing it to 2-6. The win for La Roche brought their record up to 3-1-2.

Though the Cougars did fall to the Red Hawks, the defense showed great strength in the second half, making major pushes toward the La Roche end of the field.

With the continual hard work of the Chatham Cougars, fans can expect a great rest of the season.

Cougars claim victory over Gators 2-1

The Chatham Cougars claimed their first victory of the soccer season over the Notre Dame of Maryland Gators. The game took place on Saturday, September 13, at 12 p.m.

The Cougars were the first on the board, with first year goalkeeper Megan Sieg getting a shot past Gator goalkeeper Heather Lancellotti at about the six-minute mark in the first half. The Cougars maintained this lead throughout the first half.

Only a minute and 16 seconds into the second half of play, Gators freshman Raeden McCullough answered the goal, sending a ball past Chatham goalie Liz Sawyer, and tying the game, 1-1.

Another 13 minutes, 41 seconds later, however, Cougar’s Sieg scored yet another goal, this time a penalty shot, once again on goalkeeper Lancellotti. This was the goal that ultimately won Chatham the game.

Senior goalkeeper Liz Sawyer made six of the seven shots that reached the goal.

The Cougar’s top player was Sieg, who finished the game with both of Chatham’s goals as well as nine shots on goal in total.

Other top players were senior midfielder Sarah Ellis, who had three shots on goal and one assist, sophomore midfielder Megan E. Cooper with one shot on goal, and junior midfielder Auralia Henderson, who also had one shot.