By: Draven Dabrowski
Sports Columnist
If there is one thing the Owls has shown early this fall, it is that there will be plenty to talk about each week.
From football picking up its first win to women’s soccer team refusing to allow anyone to score, the Owls had another eventful week across the board.
Starting on the pitch, Women’s Soccer has been nearly perfect to begin the season.
The university improved to 5-0-2 after defeating Pace University 2-0 in its first NE10 Conference game of the season. Seven games into the year, the Owls have yet to allow a single goal.
Seven games, seven shutouts and 630 minutes without allowing a goal.
Goalkeeper Makenzi Pastrek, a sophomore has been a major reason for the defensive success. She made five saves against Pace and has started all seven games for the Owls.
However, the defense in front of her deserves just as much recognition.
Opponents have managed only 14 shots on goal against the Owls this season.
While the defense has been shutting teams down, forward Elizabeth Bishop, a senior has been handling business on the other end of the field.
Bishop scored her team leading fifth goal of the season against Pace before assisting forward Gigi Pena, a freshman on the universities second goal.
Bishop now has six points over her last three games, and if the Owls can continue getting that combination of offense and defense, this team will be one to watch as conference play gets underway.
Moving from soccer to football, the university’s football team claimed its first win of the season.
After opening the year with a difficult matchup against Division I Wagner College, the Owls returned to Jess Dow Field and defeated American International College 30-19 in their home opener.
Running back John Amaning, a graduate, had himself a day, rushing for 158 yards on 22 carries.
Quarterback Brandon Jorgensen, a graduate, threw for 215 yards, while wide receiver Seth Westover, a graduate, was his favorite target, finishing with 137 receiving yards and a touchdown.
The Owls never trailed in the game and pulled away in the fourth quarter, highlighted by defensive back Alex Perez, a graduate, blocking an AIC punt that defensive back Kelvin McKnight, a freshman, recovered and returned for a touchdown.
It was the type of performance the Owls needed as they continue their second season under Head Coach Joe Loth.
Football and soccer were not the only teams making noise this week.
Both cross-country teams put together impressive performances at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
Colton Sallum, a sophomore led the men with a career best sixth place finish as the Owls placed fourth out of 32 teams. What may be even more encouraging is the youth behind him, with four freshmen finishing among the universities top seven runners.
On the women’s side, Erin Sola a junior placed 11th overall and helped the Owls finish seventh in a 33-team field.
McKenzie David a sophomore, followed with a 24th-place finish as the university put all five of its scoring runners inside the top 80.
Field hockey also found itself in a battle this week.
The Owls fought back from an early deficit against Southern New Hampshire University, with midfielder, Ruby Webb a senior scoring her team leading third goal to tie the game in the third quarter.
The Owls eventually fell 2-1 in overtime, dropping its record to 3-3.
Despite the loss, battling back on the road and forcing overtime showed some fight from an Owls team that still has plenty of season ahead of it.
As September continues, conference play is beginning to get underway, and we are starting to get a much better idea of what these Owl teams could become.
Women’s soccer still has not conceded a goal, football has a win in the win column, both cross-country teams are finding success and field hockey continues to battle.
And the fall season is only getting started.
