PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Colgate women's soccer team kicked off the 2022 season at Providence College Thursday night but came up short, falling 1-0.
The Friars got on the board early as in the 14th minute Elayna Grillakis played a ball across the six-yard box to Ava Brandt who hit a one-time shot off
Emma Hickey's gloves and into the back of the net.
Hickey stayed busy during the opening half as she made three saves, including a beautiful kick stop in the 23rd minute that denied the Friars on a header chance off a corner kick.
The first corner kick for the Raiders came in the 49th minute.
Maddie Cappillo whipped the ball into the box, but the Friars' goalkeeper came off her line and collected it on a jump.
In the 58th minute, Colgate had a free kick opportunity which
Emily Amano played high into the box, but no Colgate players could get a touch on it.
Grace Poncsak prevented Providence from doubling its lead in the 61st minute when she made a diving stop off a shot from in close.
Ponscak played the final 45 minutes for the Raiders and made two saves.
In the 67th minute,
Ellie Stokes ripped a shot from just outside the box that got blocked by a Providence defender.
The Raiders continued to attack as they earned another corner kick in the 70th minute but could not make anything happen. Eight minutes later,
Jocelyn Rowe ripped a shot from the top of the box that soared just over the crossbar.
Colgate's final chance came in the 89th minute when
Ally Giovino turned into the box and fired a shot that landed off target.
Providence ended the game with a 15 to 3 advantage in shots including a 6 to 0 lead in shots on goal.
FROM THE SOURCE
Head Coach Lyndse Hokanson
"Overall we are really pleased with the performance from the girls tonight. It was a bit of a tale of two halves. I felt as though once we settled into the game we had more of the play in the second half and made them more uncomfortable on both sides of the ball.
Being on the road against a quality opponent for the first game of the year, I felt as though we got a lot out of it and continue to learn more and more about ourselves with each half. Looking forward to coming back home this weekend for another opportunity to continue to compete and keep getting better."
UP NEXT
The Raiders host Iona on Sunday in their home opener. Kickoff is 6 p.m. at Beyer-Small '76 Field.
