Sports
Women’s soccer tops NESCAC with 5-0 start to 2012 season
By Caitlin O’Connor ’14
September 20, 2012
Just over a third of the way through their season, women’s soccer is already proving themselves as one of the top teams in the NESCAC. Despite being a newly-minted team in the conference—this season being only their second year—the Continentals sit atop the standings with a 5-0 record. Not since 2008 has the team opened with five straight wins.
Besides leading as a team, the women are also posting impressive personal stats in the conference. Hamilton women make up three of the top five scorers and point-earners in the NESCAC, with first-year Hannah Withiam leading both boards. This past weekend, Alex Rimmer ’13 managed to become third in Hamilton’s all-time scoring list with 32 career goals as Hamilton won 2-1 versus Connecticut College, handing Head Coach Colette Gilligan her 100th career win.
The big story this year is not just Hamilton’s record, but whom they have earned it against. In addition to defeating two SUNY competitors, the Continentals have overcome three of their conference rivals.
The win against Trinity came in the second period of overtime by standout Withiam. Next up Connecticut College, who wasn’t able to stand up to the heat of Rimmer, whose feet were behind both of the Continentals’ goals.
In their most recent conference win, the Hamilton women’s synergy and team work was the star of the show. Wesleyan hoped to crush the Conts after a rough loss last season, but could not keep it together in the final minutes. With only 24 seconds left in the second round of overtime, first-year Rebecca Rees took the corner. After ricocheting off of several players on both teams, the ball landed behind the feet of captain Rimmer. With a quick pass to Withiam, the game was won.
With Withiam winning NESCAC player of the week already once this season, it’s not just the seniors making an impact. But Rimmer thinks this is what makes the team such a strong contender.
“We also have a team where the hierarchy doesn’t matter and I think that allows our first-years to really step up and fill roles on the field, which they have done amazingly,” she said.
With a solid performance in their NESCAC debut at 6-7-2, the Continentals decided they were ready to make a statement. In addition to recruiting talented first-years like Withiam and Reese, the women changed their attitude towards the game. They started making the 2012 season a priority when other teams were still reveling in their 2011 records.
“We actually had quite a few team meetings in the spring to discuss our goals for the season,” said Rimmer. “I don’t remember having these meetings in the years before. We also held our own practices about three times a week just so players could get out there and touch the ball.”
In addition to working on their skills on the field, the team changed their mindset. A new positive attitude has overtaken the team, and has only been reinforced by their perfect season thus far.
“It is awesome to have the team we do because our positivity has definitely helped us out,” said Rimmer. “The wins this weekend have definitely inspired us to work hard for not only ourselves but for our team too.”
While the Conts are overjoyed with their success so far, they do not have any time to rest on their haunches. Hamilton has not yet faced any of the top three teams trailing them in the standing. One of these, no. 4 Amherst who is likely to be Hamilton’s toughest opponent this year, sits just over the horizon.
Last year, Hamilton lost in double overtime to Amherst with only 12 seconds remaining. The As come off three straight wins, although those wins include only one meeting against a NESCAC opponent. With the new blood of a strong first-year class and the adrenaline from the season thus far, Hamilton hopes it will be enough to overcome.
In the words of Rimmer, “I have no doubt that we will continue to grow together as a team and overcome the difficult fixtures we lost last year. I have no doubt that we will continue to grow together as a team and overcome the difficult fixtures we lost last year.”