The Oswego women’s club soccer team (WOFC) defeated Cortland 4-2 on Sept. 25 to record their first win in nearly three years. Not only was the win significant, it also marked their first goal in nearly two years.
WOFC started the game off hot with strong play in the midfield and great searching balls through the Cortland defense. It was in the 26th minute when a landmark in the club’s history would come as midfielder Rylie Weston would find the goal after beating her defender. Cheers from the sidelines were those of pure unabridged joy. A wet and cold day in Oswego all of a sudden could not be brighter.
It was this goal that opened the floodgates for WOFC. Cortland did manage to level the score but did not hold the lead for long as a second half penalty kick was well placed by rookie Emma Byrnes. The midfield play was aggressive and assertive with Lauren Reinhart causing issues for Cortland throughout the game.
The third goal for WOFC came following a corner kick. Byrnes’ ball into the box was expertly placed for Weston who rose above everyone else and glanced her header into the bottom right corner of the goal to record her second of the day.
The fourth and final goal of the contest was a product of a perfect curling free kick from co-captain and club president, Ashley Heh. From about 25 yards out, Heh’s shot ricocheted off the left post and nestled itself in the top corner. The goal raised eyebrows, dropped jaws and drew more and more cheers from the bench and crowd at Laker Turf Stadium.
At the sound of the final whistle, the players rushed the field to embrace their teammates. Their first tick in the win column in nearly three years and the first goal in over two culminated in a historic day for WOFC.
Photo by Markus Spiske via Pexels