October 27, 2011
Hamilton goalie Liza Gergenti ’14 may be all smiles off the field, but on the field, she is a force to be reckoned with.
As a first-year, Gergenti played a crucial role in leading the Continentals to the second round of the NCAAs, and this year she led her team to qualify for the NESCAC tournament.
When the season started, Hamilton knew they had a lot to prove in their first season in the NESCAC. Although there have been minor bumps along the road, Hamilton has proved to the conference that they are a force to be reckoned with. Hamilton finished fifth in the league, which is more than enough to cinch a spot in the quarterfinals of the NESCAC tournament this weekend.
Last Saturday, Oct. 22nd, Hamilton took on Tufts at home, and the game proved to be a bitter battle to the end. After a double overtime and several clutch saves by Gergenti, Hamilton was happy to walk away with a tie.
Offensive leader Charlotte Cosgrove ’13 had a scoring opportunity in the first half, but it was saved by the Tufts keeper. In the second double overtime, hearts stopped when a Tufts free kick led to a header directed at Hamilton’s net, but Gergenti made the save and saved the game.
Gergenti made eight saves for her fifth shutout this year. She was awarded NESCAC co-player of the week for her valiant effort.
Gergenti believes that the key to next week will be to “score early and prove that we are the better team in the beginning.” She admits that, in the past, Hamilton has played better at home. But it is going to be hard to beat Hamilton’s determination, especially with Gergenti holding down the goal. As long as the team stays focused and doesn’t let the trip get to them, Hamilton women’s soccer is bound to bring home a victory this Halloween weekend.