Women’s soccer team co-captain Stephanie Covello has known her team was capable of this all season.
She had seen the Colonials’ progress. With every game, they were playing better and better. And Sunday, GW showed the promise Covello spoke of – defeating Duquesne by a score of 4-0.
“This was definitely one of our best games this season, probably our best in Atlantic 10 play” Covello said. “We’re a totally different team than when we started the season. Tactically and technically, we’ve been improving with every game.”
Senior forward Meg Pyle scored early in the first half, getting the ball in the net off a corner kick to get the Colonials started in their highest-scoring A-10 effort this year. Goals from sophomore defensive back Kristen Slack, junior midfielder Misa Eiritz and senior midfielder Erica Wright rounded out the scoring for GW.
After scoring two game-winning goals in back-to-back games last weekend, Wright was named the Atlantic 10 women’s soccer Player of the Week for last week. Her goal Sunday was her fourth of the season, converting on a penalty kick in the first half.
Pyle said the Colonials brought more energy to Sunday’s game. In the first game of GW’s two-game road trip, the Colonials couldn’t stop St. Bonaventure’s offense, losing 2-0. Beating Duquesne (5-3-3, 3-1-1 A-10) brought the Colonials to an even record – 7-7, with three wins and three losses in conference.
Head coach Tanya Vogel said the team’s seniors have had a huge impact on keeping the team positive and moving forward. For their part, Covello said she and her fellow seniors know that this year’s team can go far.
With three wins in conference play, the Colonials are four games shy of their goal of seven wins in the A-10. With only five games left to go in the season, the team is determined to finish strong.
“We just keep talking about how to get this done, and now every game’s a must-win situation,” Pyle said. “We can’t lose, and everyone has to take it upon themselves to make it happen. It can’t be individuals – it has to be a team effort.”
Pyle added that the Colonials this year operate much more as a team, and she hopes they can move on to play in what would be her first A-10 tournament.
GW has two home games left this season. The team plays Saint Louis on Oct. 17 and Charlotte on Oct. 19. The 49ers are the defending A-10 champions and are unbeaten in conference play this season.
“It’s all about action now,” Vogel said. “The girls know they can win. They know they’ve been told they can win. They know they need to win.”
