Bobcats Take Down Timberwolves in Home Opener

The Paul Smith's College women's soccer team started its season in stunning fashion on Friday night with a 6-0 win against SUNY Adirondack.  After a brief 30-minute lightning delay the skies cleared and the Bobcats pounced on the Timberwolves to the delight of the ~300 supportive fans for the Paul Smith's College home opener.

Samantha Severing (Livingston Manor, NY) started the onslaught in the first half with a nice finish from a through ball by Grace Kronick (Cheshire, MA).  The Bobcats continued applying pressure but it wasn't until the second half that the floodgates really opened.  Katrien Roefs (Bainbridge, NY) buried the second goal of the game with a pass coming from Severing followed 5 minutes later by a moonshot from 35 yards out by senior defensive back Keeley VanValKenburgh (Gilboa, NY).  Assisting on VanValKenburgh's long strike was Maddy Jackson (New Bern, NC). 

Last year's USCAA Women's Division II player of the year Hayleigh Gates (West Winfield, NY) continued her impressive career with an unassisted goal to make it 4-0.  Newcomer Ashley Carli (Leroy, NY) then scored her first goal of her career with 10 minutes left in regulation, assisted by incoming transfer and home-grown talent Madison Reardon (Saranac Lake, NY).  Senior forward Danielle Lockwood (Cape May Courthouse, NJ) finished the scoring with a few minutes left in the game.  Last year's YSCC tournament MVP Anna Thrasher (Leonia, NJ) backstopped the shutout win with 3 saves.

"We are really excited that we are back on the field together," said Coach Bailey Walton.  "The team has been really hungry for a game and I'm thrilled with the effort the entire group put in.  I'm exited to get back to doing what we love doing.  The expectations are to be as successful as possible and the energy from our new players combined with our returners has me excited for the season to come." 

Excitement around the women's soccer program is indeed building off the momentum from last year's trip to the National Championship game in Virgia Beach.  You can catch the Bobcats this coming weekend as they head to Vermont to play NVU Lyndon at 3pm on Saturday 9/3 and NVY Johnson at 3pm on Sunday 9/4.  Follow Smitty_nation and paulsmiths_wsoccer on Instagram for more pictures and season updates!