The Chatham University women’s soccer team aimed to start its season 3-0 for the first time since 2020 when the Cougars hosted Mount Union on Sept. 4 at Graham Field. The 2024 campaign began with a pair of wins on the road against Pitt Bradford and Alfred State.
While Chatham dropped this contest to Mount Union 1-0 after an 80th-minute Purple Raiders goal, there are many positives the team is taking from this game.
The Cougars started five first years, and the team’s youth is something head coach Betsy Warren wants to use to her advantage.
“I think it’s just exciting,” Warren said. “It’s just kind of like they got that fresh opportunity. I don’t think there’s any real expectations other than just go out and play. So truly, I think it’s exciting to see how they’re meshing now with the experience on our team.”
While Chatham started five first-years, it quickly became six first-years on the pitch after an injury in goal to keeper Katie Krecek ‘25 forced Kyanni Escudero ‘28 in net. The first-year quieted all concerns with several big saves to keep the game tied going into the half.
Escudero finished her first collegiate game with six saves in 82 minutes of game time.
“I think no matter who we put in goal, our team is confident in their abilities,” Warren said. “And we wouldn’t put someone in that position without having full confidence in them. So it’s great to see her get that opportunity and shine.”
Coach Warren has confidence in a lot of her team, as 19 Cougars played against Mount Union.
“We want to make sure we’re scheduling challenging competition early on so we can get different players opportunities, different looks,” Warren said. “We subbed about 9-10 deep tonight. So we are obviously trying to see the way the different pieces all fit together in the puzzle. So it was really encouraging, seeing some young players step up, seeing some returners in some new places and we’re seeing how it all fits together.”
Even though games like these help first-years get accustomed to new systems and play styles, the returners to the team gain different perspectives from their new teammates.
“Even though I am older and I’ve been on the team for going on four years now, I still learn something from my younger teammates and my teammates of my same class every day,” Hannah Thomas ‘24 said.
Unfortunately for the Cougars, that depth wasn’t enough to beat Mount Union keeper, Rylee Oldfield ‘25, who made five saves that evening.
Meanwhile, the lone goal in the contest belonged to Jillian Pidgeon ‘25 whose 80th-minute tally was all that was needed for the Purple Raider win.
While the Cougars would have loved to notch a win in its home opener, games like these are valuable for younger players to find their footing at the NCAA level.
“I think a lot of the first years and a lot of people on our team are pretty versatile in their abilities of where they can play on the field,” Thomas said. “The first years coming in have a lot of strengths that can definitely be utilized. I think it being pretty early in the season, there’s still a lot of time for improvement and connection to learn to play with each other.”
The women’s soccer team will look to rebound for its 1 p.m. game against Baldwin Wallace on Sept. 7 at Graham Field.
