Lady Cards beat Norwich handily

The Plattsburgh State women’s soccer team played its last game of the 2012 season Wednesday and won it handily, defeating Norwich, 5-1.

The five goals tied the largest offensive output of the season for the Lady Cardinals (7-10-1), matching the five they scored in their first game of the season. Forward Melissa Rodriguez scored the first goal of her college career just before the seven minute mark. Midfielder Kristie Pageau then put her team up, 2-0, with her fifth goal of the season off a pass from midfielder Ashley McKenelley.

Norwich didn’t put up a fight early on, forcing PSUC goalie Danielle Schmitt to make only two saves in the first half. However, the Cadets made it a one-goal game when Brittany Casey netted her 12th goal of the season with just 13:20 left in the match.

The Cards took over from there.

Defender Madeleine Rattray scored her first college goal litte more than a minute later, and the team would continue adding on. Pageau scored her second of the game of a pass from Rodriguez with 6:55 left, and back Devin McMahon scored her first college goal, with Pageau picking up the assist. Norwich almost scored its second goal just minutes before the game ended. However, Schmitt dove to her right to tip the would-be goal just wide of the net.

Pageau’s five-point game was the last of her career, and head coach Karen Waterbury was happy to see her senior forward play so well as the season came to a close.

“I wish we had seen that all season from her,” Waterbury said. “She’s a great player, so it was good to see her finish on that note.”

Pageau also was happy with her performance in her last college game.

“It’s just a good way to finish,” Pageau said. “It still hasn’t hit me yet, but I’m sure tomorrow morning, when I don’t have practice, it’ll really hit me.”

The Cards were in command throughout much of the match. However, when Norwich was able to bring it back to a one-goal game, Pageau said that it woke up her team.

“I think we were kind of taking them for granted,” Pageau said. “I think after they scored we realized ‘Oh wow, we better pick it up.’ It just worked out. It was exciting ... to see our whole team score.”

Overall, the team’s offense was more aggressive and amassed a large amount of scoring chances. Norwich goalie Allison Hull was the recipient of a barrage of PSUC shots, stopping 14 of the 19 shots on goal. As a result of the offensive pressure, the Lady Cards also won the corner kick battle, taking nine corner kicks, while Norwich had none.

Waterbury was pleased with her team’s ability to create opportunities on offense, even though she said the team could have been more opportunistic and capitalized on more of the chances.          

 “I was pleased with the passing, I was pleased with balls we played into the box,” Waterbury said. “I think we just need to be a bit sharper in the box.”