By Stephen Lapage, Contributor
Following a commanding victory on their home turf against St. Bonaventure, the Canisius women's soccer team embarked on a brief road trip, eager to continue their winning streak before returning to the Demske Sports Complex.
Canisius began their conference campaign in Jersey City, New Jersey, where they faced the Saint Peter’s Peacocks on Saturday, September 9. In the opening half, Canisius junior Emma Oliphant initiated the scoring, displaying her offensive prowess. However, the Peacocks retaliated swiftly, leveling the score at 1-1. Undeterred, Oliphant showcased her scoring prowess once more, securing another goal for the Griffins, and the lead remained intact as halftime approached.
During the second half, Canisius’ sophomore Skylar Cornell managed to elude the Peacock's resilient goaltender, extending the Griffins' advantage to a two-goal margin. Both teams showed unwavering determination throughout the remainder of the contest, yet the score remained the same. Canisius held firm, clinching their inaugural conference victory of the season with a final score of 3-1.
Oliphant's stellar two-goal performance marked her second multi-goal game of her career, with the previous occurrence coincidentally happening against the Peacocks last season.
Energized by their recent success, the Golden Griffins journeyed to Syracuse, New York to face the Lemoyne Dolphins on Wednesday, September 13. Canisius faced a Dolphins squad in their inaugural year as a Division One program. Canisius junior Madeline Weltin provided just that, heading a goal into the net to grant the Griffs the initial lead. Despite numerous opportunities, the scoreboard remained unaltered heading into halftime.
In the second half, Canisius, already holding a 1-0 advantage, wasted no time in amplifying their lead, netting a goal just 22 seconds in. Freshman Nicki Silverman unleashed a potent strike from the top of the penalty box, passing the opposing goalkeeper and securing the Griffins' second goal of the match. Canisius held strong throughout the remainder of the contest, maintaining their 2-0 lead and earning the victory.
Junior Jordan Spencer and senior Jessica Jones shared goaltending duties, each contributing to a clean sheet during their respective periods on the pitch. The Griffins' impressive tally of 15 shots on goal not only marked a season-high, but was also the most since 2015. This amount of shots led to their third consecutive multi goal game, a feat not accomplished since 2010.
With their winning streak on the line, the Griffins look to continue their pursuit of victory as they return to the Demske Sports Complex on Saturday, Sept. 16, where they will play their second conference match against the Manhattan Jaspers.