The Red is preparing for highly anticipated matchups against Harvard and Colgate, after moving through three games without picking up a win. The team has lost both of its Ivy League contests thus far, and facing the Crimson and the Raiders will not be any easier.
Senior defender and co-captain Kailey Joyce said she is feeling optimistic about the Red’s chances in future games against Ivy opponents.
“I think the previous two conference games showed us how hard and fast play in the Ivy League will be, and we’ve had some good practices preparing us for the coming games,” she said.
The Red has not seen much success against Harvard or Colgate in previous seasons, with a 0-3-1 record against the two individual institutions over the past two seasons.
Nevertheless, senior goalkeeper and co-captain Kelsey Tierney is confident in her team despite this poor track record.
“Harvard and Colgate are both very talented, physical teams … [with] impactful players and specific strategies that we will need to keep track of, but our major focus is on ourselves,” she said.
The Red (3-6-1) has a losing record, so the women must focus on their mental strength for the upcoming game. It is not a question of how hard they have been practicing, but of whether or not they will be able to apply the skills they have in the matchups.
“We know that we have challenging matches ahead of us, so being both physically and mentally prepared for our upcoming contests this week is key,” Tierney said.
Both the Crimson (7-3-0) and Raiders (4-5-3) are known for their strong sense of organization, both in defense and offense.
“Both Harvard and Colgate are good teams that like to possess the ball and focus on organization,” Joyce said. “We’re all looking forward to a few challenging games to rise to the occasion.”
This week’s matchups are critical in assuring the Red finishes its season strong. In this way, it is essential that the Red come together as a team and give a strong showing.
“I think the biggest impact will come from us all working together as a team defensively,” Joyce said. “No individual is going to have a huge impact. If we have learned anything from the last few tough games, it is that we need to come together as a team both offensively and defensively.”