BY JEFREY CANOVA, SPORTS STAFFER
Photo: GoBonnies
The George Washington women’s soccer team beat St. Bonaventure University 3-2 on Sunday, concluding the Bonnies’ 2023 season on Senior Day as the program commemorated its four graduating seniors.
To honor their graduating student-athletes, the Bonnies’ starting lineup included senior goalkeeper Mackenize Nolan, senior forwards Alexa Martinos and McKenna Robinson and senior midfielder Lydia Choban. Graduate midfielders Haylee Smith, Christine Napoli, Rachel Hutchison, Amber Achladis and graduate defender Kenzie Tarmino earned the starting spot as they all played their final game in the Brown and White.
In the game’s first minute, Bonnies defenders Hannah Walker and Sydney Hayward substituted for Choban and Achladis, respectively, as both starters couldn’t play the full 90.
Donny George, the Bonnies women’s soccer coach, elaborated on his time coaching the four graduating seniors.
“These four seniors, first and foremost, are incredible human beings. Taking over this group and leading those seniors for their last year has been an honor,” said George. “I don’t know many people as kind and caring as those four. They love this program and their teammates. They’ve worked hard this year and I will miss them.”
The Revolutionaries, now 4-11-3 overall (1-8-1 in conference), began bothering the Bonnies’ backline through their crosses inside the penalty box throughout the first half. In the 22nd minute, a cross from George Washington midfielder Caitlin Cunningham outside the far right-hand side of 18 arrived to unmarked forward Kate McGrath inside the box. Nolan instinctively saved McGrath’s fluffed shot using her lower body, preventing the Revolutionaries from scoring the game’s first goal. Nolan, who made her third start of the season, had three saves.
The Bonnies ended the first half with one shot and two corner kicks; the Revolutionaries had five shots (two on goal) and one corner.
The second half brought life into the game as the first-half stalemate ended with five goals scored between the two sides.
In the 46th minute, Bonaventure defender Lauren Westwood knocked the ball from outside the left-hand side of the 18 to Bonnies forward Olivia Allen near the top of the left-hand side of the penalty area. Allen then delivered a bottom-driven cross to a lurking Smith as she dived towards the ball and struck it to the inside of the net, giving the first lead of the game to the Bonnies. Smith scored her first career goal in her final game.
In the 67th minute, George Washington used its attacking transition to score the equalizer. McGrath recovered the ball from midfield and progressed forward to pass to midfielder Aoi Kataoka, who then delivered a through ball to midfielder Alexa Meinen, making a dashing run behind the Bonnies’ backline. Meinen, in a one-on-one against Nolan, placed her shot to the bottom right corner of the net.
The Bonnies responded less than a minute later as Hutchinson delivered a through ball to a bursting Allen down the left flank, who then slotted in a tight-angled finish into the right corner of the net past goalkeeper Ainsley Lumpe, giving the Bonnies their second lead of the match. Allen finishes the season as the Bonnies’ leader in points with 18, scoring and assisting six times each. She also ranked eighth among the Atlantic 10 goal scorers and fourth in assists.
In a back-forth contest, the Revolutionaries bounced back again as forward Kelly Poole intercepted the ball from an attempted pass by Westwood and chipped Nolan from around 25 yards outside the left-hand side of the 18.
In the 80th minute, George Washington sealed the win when Kataoka received the ball from outside the penalty area and maneuvered her way into the left-hand side of the penalty area to get a comfortable shot with her left foot. She tucked the ball to the bottom right corner of the net for the winner.
The Revolutionaries finished the game with ten shots (six on goal); the Bonnies responded and fought by finishing with eight shots (five on target).
The Bonnies close the season with a record of 3-8-6 overall and 2-6-2 in the A10. Bonaventure ended the season with a seven-game winless streak — the last four being losses. Still, the Bonnies finished seven points away from earning the eighth spot in A-10.
George, who completed his first season as the Bonnies’ head coach, said he looks forward to his team’s future.
“First, I would say that my goal is to make this team into my team. Next year, we will have players that I have chosen. We have a new class coming in and are set up for the 2025 class,” he said. “In the next few years, you will not only see us try to continue our style, but we will also have players that fit that profile. We are looking forward to players coming in who fit the profile I am looking for to play our style.”
Leave a Reply