Women's Soccer Starts Strong

The Lady Hornets soccer team started their season strong winning their first four games but lost a hard fought game to Castleton in overtime.

After that 4-0 start, they have been offensively shutdown being shutout in three straight contests, including a heartbreaking double-overtime loss 1-0 to Castleton at home last Saturday.

Even though the team has hit a wall offensively, Coach Shay Gestal is very aware of the circumstances, but is also optimistic when speaking about the team and knows what they have to work on.

"One thing we're working on in practice is getting the ball to the end line and getting it back," she said.  "Every single shot during games goes straight to the keeper."

Coach Gestal acknowledges there are a lot of fresh faces on the team, but she thinks it's a positive improvement.

"We have a lot of new players, and think that's a really good thing," Gestal says.  "[It's] a new start from last year, with new energy."

Leading the team in shots is Sarah Cornell, one of the many freshmen on the team.  She attributes the Lady Hornets success to how the team relates to each other not just on the field but off the field as well.

"Our connection with each other, both on and off the field," Cornell says.  "We're all really good friends, and we're all really positive with each other and help each other."

"My personal goal is to do as much as I possibly can to help the team get to, and win the NAC championship."

The Lady Hornets (4-3)(0-1 NAC) next match is at home Saturday against NAC rival University of Maine-Farmington (3-1-2)(2-0 NAC).