By Draven Dabrowski
Sports Writer
The Owls won for the first time in a month, defeating Chestnut Hill College 1-0 at Jess Dow Field on Friday, Oct. 3.
“Everybody worked so hard. It’s good to see them rewarded for their efforts,” Head Coach Adam Cohen said.
The university started with a measured approach, feeling out the Griffins’ defense and settling into possession.
The pace shifted in the 30th minute when forward Frida Norret, a freshman, seized on a loose ball in front of the goal.
After a free kick from midfielder Aimee Girard, a senior, deflected through traffic, Norret reacted quickly and tucked it away to put the Owls up 1-0.
The goal was Norret’s second of the season.
After coming back from a concussion last week, she said it felt great to score and get the win.
“It was a great way to come back from my concussion, and we just got to keep up the good pace, keep the wins up,” Norret said.
The university pressed high and won key battles in the midfield. Defensively, the Owls remained organized, clearing away long passes and denying Chestnut Hill clean looks on the net.
While the offense did its part, goalkeeper Makenzi Pastreck, a freshman, made her second career start. Pastreck registered five saves, including two in the final 10 minutes, to preserve the shutout and earn her first collegiate victory.
After making her first career start last week, she built on that experience with even greater confidence.
“I was really nervous last game, but coming into this game, I stayed more relaxed. I just knew there would be more pressure. I just had to stay calm and collected,” Pastreck said.
The Owls looked more confident than in recent weeks.
The second half for the Owls was a test of resilience. Protecting their narrow lead, the Owls dealt with waves of pressure as the Griffins committed numbers forward.
In the 87th minute, Pastreck denied Chestnut Hill’s best chance with a diving save that sent the Griffins back home to Philadelphia.
For the Owls, the final whistle brought excitement; players were seen cheering with one another. The month-long drought weighed heavily on the team, but this win served as proof that their work was paying off.
“I’m super proud of them. They came together and got the win,” Cohen said.
With the victory, the university sits at 2-4-3 overall on the year. Though the record still leaves room for improvement in the NE10 standings, the Owls hope the win can serve as a turning point.
Breaking through at home at the start of Homecoming weekend offered a reminder of the energy and quality the team can bring when they are locked in.
The university travels to Springfield, Massachusetts to face American International College on Wednesday, Oct. 8 in a matchup where both teams are looking for their first conference win.
“Conference games are challenging, especially traveling up to Springfield, but we expect to be very competitive,” Cohen said.
