The Elizabethtown College women’s soccer team prepared for its game against Moravian College last Wednesday. The two teams had equal Landmark Conference records going into the game. However, the weather forecast for the evening was enough for team officials to make the decision to postpone the conference tilt until the following Tuesday evening.
The Blue Jays turned their attention to Saturday’s conference match-up with Juniata College, who sat one-half game behind Etown in the Landmark standings. The Homecoming weekend game started quickly with the Blue Jays scoring in the third minute of action. The quick pace of the Blue Jays’ attack led to a penalty in the box, giving junior Lauren Berry the opportunity to put Etown up 1-0 early on. Berry ripped a shot past the Juniata goalkeeper for her sixth goal of the season.
Berry’s goal was the only one the Blue Jays scored in the first half despite having 15 first-half shots. Etown outshot Juniata 25-5 for the game, as the Eagles managed only one shot on goal against junior goalkeeper Dana Robidoux. Robidoux recorded her fifth shutout of the year.
The Blue Jays opened the second half of the game with two goals in two minutes. In the 52nd minute, junior Kaceyanne Cerankowski scored off of a corner kick for her ninth goal of the year. Junior Trisha Clark and sophomore Maddie Burkhardt were credited with the assist.
One minute after Cerankowski’s goal, junior Kara Weller found herself with a chance to score. Weller took advantage of the opportunity for her first goal of the season to give Etown a 3-0 lead.
The Blue Jays traveled to Moravian on Tuesday night to make up the game originally scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 15.
Facing the conference’s top offensive weapon in Moravian’s Kirsten Schall, the Blue Jays had their hands full early on. Schall scored just 58 seconds into the contest to give the Greyhounds a 1-0 lead.
Clark made sure the deficit did not last long, scoring in the third minute to even the game at one with a shot from outside the 18-yard box. In the 23rd minute, Cerankowski scored her team-leading 10th goal of the season and gave Etown a 2-0 lead.
Schall responded as she found the back of the net for the second time in the first half to tie the game at two going into halftime.
The Blue Jays, who have had a knack for scoring early in each halves this season, scored four minutes into the second half. Berry scored her seventh of the season to put Etown ahead 3-2 before Burkhardt added an insurance goal later in the half.
After Schall scored two first half goals, the Blue Jays’ defense shut down the leading scorer in the Landmark Conference. Robidoux made one save on the evening in the victory. The win was her 11th this season, tying a career-high.
The Blue Jays will host Drew University on Saturday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. On Saturday, Etown will honor Kendra Mancino as the lone senior on this year’s squad.
The women’s soccer team currently sits in sole possession of second place in the Landmark Conference, trailing undefeated Catholic University. Catholic defeated the Blue Jays 1-0 back on Sept. 27. After Drew, the Blue Jays will play one non-conference game before finishing the season at conference opponent Scranton.
