Lady Cougars Start Season Strong
Women’s Soccer Opens with Win and Tie
(Dryden, NY) - The Lady Cougars soccer team kicked their season off in impressive fashion this past weekend, playing a pair of games at the East Coast Cup Invitational at Tompkins Cortland CC. Holyoke opened with a 2-2 tie Saturday against the hosts Tompkins before defeating Finger Lakes CC by a 3-1 score on Sunday.
Sophomore forward Cassidy Snyder (Holyoke, MA / Smith Academy) took care of the scoring, burying all five of the Cougars' goals this weekend. Snyder holds the HCC women's soccer all-time record for goals in a season with the mark of 27 she registered as a freshman in 2017. Her five goals this season currently lead all of NJCAA Division III. Sophomore captains Jessica Patruno (Granby, MA / Granby HS) and Shannon McCarthy (Chicopee, MA / Chicopee Comprehensive HS) both played remarkably throughout the weekend, leading the way by example as well as vocally. Patruno anchored the defense alongside freshman outside back Gabrielle Petlock (Southampton, MA / Smith Vocational HS), who normally plays in a more offensive role. McCarthy controlled the game in the middle of the field, dominating the pitch with fellow center midfielder, freshman Samantha Tersavich (Westfield, MA / Hampshire Regional HS). In addition to being two of Holyoke's strongest players over the pair of games, McCarthy and Tersavich each pitched in offensively with an assist. Fellow midfielder, freshman Steph Robert (Monson, MA / Monson, MA), had a pair of assists in Sunday's victory as freshman goalkeeper Emily Toro-Mattoon (East Longmeadow, MA / East Longmeadow HS) made several great saves on way to her first collegiate win.
The Lady Cougars start the campaign 1-0-1, their best opening record after two games since 2015. Holyoke's next matchup is on the road at 1pm this Saturday against Nassau CC who eliminated HCC from post season play in 2017 in a district championship game decided by a penalty kick shootout. On Sunday the Lady Cougars will play away again versus SUNY Broome CC at 2pm. Let's go Cougars!
Photos: (Main) Cassidy Snyder takes the ball in behind the opposition's defense at the East Coast Cup Invitational. (Thumbnail) Six Lady Cougars during the post game cool down after Sunday's win. L-R McCarthy, Patruno, Toro-Mattoon, Petlock, Miranda Grochowski (Westfield, MA / Westfield HS), Tersavich.
