Monday, Sept. 24, the Hillsdale women’s soccer club competed against its toughest opponent yet, Siena Heights University’s reserve team. The team was defeated 8-0.
“It was rough, but we improved as the game went on,” said freshman Ellen McNally, center/midfielder.
The women’s soccer club struggled to gain an offensive push on Siena Heights, but held their defense in the second half. With only 15 players on the women’s soccer club team, the game ended at a loss and two yellow cards.
Freshman Macaela Bennett and senior Susan Manuel received yellow cards for their unsportsmanlike behavior during the game, yet teammates felt the referees acted in an unreasonable manner.
“I mean you could see last night’s [Sunday Sept. 23] Packers game, referees at a professional level making very horrible calls,” sophomore Sheridan Markatos, center midfielder and forward, said. “And that happens all the time especially at a club level sport.”
“It is so frustrating because when you are 4’11” you either have to play really hard or you’re going to get hurt so I feel like I tend to get called on a lot for being aggressive,” Manuel said.
Players are optimistic about future games and the overall improvement of the team.
A loss and yellow cards have not impeded the team’s determination for this Sunday’s game against Ashland University, players said.
“I think right now our defense, despite our score, has been making huge strides and just improving at every game exponentially. And so now I think we need to really work on moving it to the offense,” said junior Geneva Oster, president of the women’s soccer club.
In past games, the women’s soccer club team has missed a few of their key players, but this Sunday, Sept. 30, the team is looking to have a full roster at this highly-anticipated game.
“Now that we will have a full roster we will be able to play the true strengths of our team members both young and older,” Oster said. “We are taking this much more seriously because we are going to be on the football field and on nice turf.
Because of that we also expect high attendance from our fans and from the Hillsdale College community to come out and support us.”
Sunday, Sept. 30, the men’s soccer club team will be playing against University of Notre Dame at 2 p.m. and the women’s soccer club team will be playing against Ashland at 4 p.m.