The Red (9-4, 3-2) was fired up for its last two home games of the season, which were bittersweet for the four talented seniors on the team. The team played their first back-to-back games since opening weekend against Brown University (4-10, 0-5) on Saturday and Bucknell University (10-6) yesterday.

After consecutive losses and losing the last two Ivy games, the Red was inspired and tallied its highest goal total of the season, defeating the Bears, 7-3. Sophomore goalkeeper Alex Botte made her first start of the season in the transition period from her predecessor, first team All-Ivy Mel Jue. Botte made eight saves on the day, proving her ability to take over for a very talented goalkeeper.

The offense rallied behind the goalie, keeping the ball on the other half of the green. In the first half, the Red scored twice on nine shots, but more impressively the Red managed to put 20 shots on goal in the second half, scoring an additional five. The three senior attackers all received scoring points. Senior attackers Kelley Kantarian and Katie Kirnan scored two and one apiece while senior back Natalie Appleton threw in a valuable assist which led to junior midfielder Kate Thompson converting a penalty corner 15 minutes into the first half for the first score of the game. Junior attacker Catie De Stio scored twice on eight shots and had three assists and sophomore midfielder Olivia Boyd added another score and an assist. Overall, the Red dominated in its last Ivy home game of the season.

Commented De Stio, “As a team we were connecting really well and most of the goals were progressive: [scores were]…started by a great defensive block or save, worked up the field through passing, working off of each other, a lot of great cuts on and off the ball…and we were able to finish as a team.”

However, the final home game of the season ended in a heartwrenching overtime loss. Again, the seniors were stellar against Bucknell. Jue was in goal for the final time at Marsha Dodd for 81:32 and made seven saves in regular play. Kantarian and Kirnan took three of the Red’s nine shots, which resulted in seven saves by the Bison goalkeeper. Although the Red edged the Bison in shots, 17-16, and penalty corners, 9-7, the Red was unable to convert its offensive advantage into goals. The final score was on a one-on-one between Jue and Bucknell junior midfielder Kelly Bruvik, who caught a pass behind the Red defense. At an arm's length: Junior attack Catie De Stio (17) registered two goals and three assists in the Red’s 7-3 rout of Brown on Saturday.

The four Red seniors were honored before the game for their contributions to a historic Red team.

Said De Stio, “The seniors have made a huge impact on the team and they have each played a vital role as teammates and as friends. They are a great group of girls…who have impacted the program so much and will be truly missed on and off the field.

The Red will be taking to the road for two more Ivy League games before the season ends. Next up for the Red is the highly anticipated match at No. 4 Princeton (12-2, 5-0) on Friday and the season will conclude against Dartmouth (7-7, 3-2) the next weekend. To clinch the League, the Red will need to defeat both teams and hope for losses by Yale and Princeton.

According to De Stio, the team’s game plan for practicing this week will be “just like for any other game, we are just going to focus on us.”