Women’s soccer: At home to right the ship

After a couple of overtime heartbreakers in the Bulldogs’ first three games, this weekend’s Yale Classic will provide a tough physical and mental test.

Yale will host its classic for the second time in three years, this season inviting Western Carolina (1-3), Delaware (2-1-1) and Sacred Heart (0-4) to attend, although the Elis (1-2, 0-0 Ivy) will only play Western Carolina and Delaware this weekend. A game against Sacred Heart is scheduled for Tuesday evening.

The Elis hope to come out looking sharp and mentally tough for this weekend’s games, especially after letting Tuesday’s game against Fairfield slip away despite a strong first half.

“We need to push through for the full 90 minutes and not be afraid that they’re gonna come back,” captain Emma Whitfield ’09 said after the loss.

Western Carolina will try to do the same against the Bulldogs today. The Catamounts are coming off a recent double overtime loss to Belmont — a game that they led for the entire first half and much of the second half.

They are also celebrating their 10th season of intercollegiate competition this year and will attempt to make this season a breakthrough season of success with a pair of wins at the Yale Classic this weekend.

After the Catamounts, the Elis will battle the Fightin’ Blue Hens of Delaware on Sunday afternoon. Delaware has had a good season thus far and will present a dangerous and athletic matchup for the Bulldogs.

With its top two scorers from last year’s squad returning this season, Delaware was picked No. 7 in the pre-season Colonial Athletic Association Coaches Poll. However, the Blue Hens are also a formidable opponent on defense this year, yielding only one goal thus far into the season.

“In the past few games, our forwards have just been standing in a line and not moving very much,” forward Becky Brown ’11 said. “To prepare for good defenses, we’ve been working on making runs in the box and getting more movement in the box for more scoring opportunities.”

If Yale can capitalize upon its scoring opportunities this weekend, then the Elis could collectgreat momentum heading into a road swing in California next week.

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