Women’s Soccer wins NJCAA Region 3 Semifinals game

By: Alexander Hepp

Staff Writer

The Vikings Women’s Soccer team defeated Genesee Community College Cougars with a 5-0 shutout in the NJCAA Region 3 Semifinals game on Thursday, Oct. 31.

The game was a rematch of the final regular season game where the Vikings won 1-0 with an early second half goal by human services major and Team Captain, Brooke Clough.

Hudson Valley Community College entered the game as the No. 4 seed.

As the game approached halftime, the Vikings duo of Clough and dental hygiene student, Grace Cusack, kicked off the scoring with nearly five minutes remaining. 

Clough dribbled up the far sideline and sent a left cross into the center of the box where Cusack sent the ball to the lower left corner for the goal. This goal gave Clough her twenty-first assist of the season to set a regular season record for Hudson Valley Community College. 

“It means the world to me, I just want to thank my team: they really helped me get this,” said Clough, regarding the achievement.

Clough also said how soccer is a team sport and she always looks for the best option, whether it’s her scoring or if someone has a better shot of getting the ball, she just wants her team to win. 

She said an assist and goal are the same, there both points on the board for your team.

Nearly halfway through the second half, Cusack and liberal arts major, Morgan Catlin extended the Vikings lead to 3-0 in a four-minute span. 

Catlin scored first with 29:18 remaining in the game as she collected a deflected shot off the Cougars’ goalpost and sent it to the back of the net for the Vikings second goal of the game.

Cusack’s second goal of the game came on with an assist from Catlin with 25:26 remaining in the game. 

Catlin collected a fast break pass from Clough and dribbled up the far side of the field. Cusack positioned herself in the middle of the field, outrunning Genesee’s defensive backs for the open shot on goal.

Cusack had multiple chances like this throughout the first half keeping Genesse goalkeeper Madison Papaj on her feet, including one early in the game, when Cusack was tackled hard in the box and no call was made.

Clough believes the team has drastically improved, saying the team played smarter and more confidently.

Clough scored in the second straight game against the Cougars, as she scored the winning goal on Saturday, which gave the Vikings today’s home field advantage. 

On a corner kick from Cassie Patrick, communications major, Clough positioned herself behind the defensive line and was able to put her foot on the incoming pass and placed it into the top left corner for the goal.                                                                                                                                                                                          

A few minutes later, the Vikings added their fifth goal from Catlin, who scored her second goal of the game. Catlin hustled down the middle of the field with the fast break and sent the shot over the head of the oncoming goalkeeper for the goal. Vikings goalkeeper, Bailey Dunn, physical education student, recorded 5 saves for her 8th straight shutout win as the Vikings remained undefeated in October.            

Dunn made a few stellar saves towards the end of the game to preserve the shutout victory. While Genesee keeper faced twenty shots on goal ending up with 15 saves.

“I am so proud of the team today,” Vikings’ Women’s Soccer Head Coach Jay Pokines said. “We were focused on what we needed to do and are gaining more confidence in our ability to play soccer,”  Pokines continued. “We are peaking at the right time of the season.” 

With this win the Vikings will travel to play Mohawk Valley Community College on Sunday, Nov. 3, for the NJCAA Region 3 District A Championship, which Coach Pokines believes the Vikings have a good chance of winning.

“I feel really good about it,” Pokines said. “I believe we match up with them well,” he continued.  “We have a totally different look as a team from when we met them on their field.”

The Vikings first matchup with Mohawk Valley Community College resulted in a 4-1 loss, and Coach Pokines said playing a neutral field makes a difference. 

“Getting any team off their home field makes a huge difference,” he said “Their field is small, which plays well for the formation they run– on a larger field I’m confident we can find their weak points and have a different outcome from earlier in the season.”

The Vikings have expressed excitement and confidence going into the game as the players anticipate the season’s continuation.