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Women’s Soccer Starting Strong

Eirik Bjorno
Staff Writer

The LIU Post Women’s soccer team is off to a good start for the 2012 season. Freshman Susanne Vistnes scored two goals to knock off the Holy Family University Tigers, on Wednesday, September 12.

Vistnes and junior Alexa Niciforo led the Pioneers to the win on Wednesday, by linking up on both goals. Niciforo found Vistnes in the box four minutes into the game and the freshman striker one-timed the ball into the net. However, the Tigers got on the board just four minutes later, tying the game at 1-1.
With ten minutes remaining in the first half, Vistnes scored again, giving the Pioneers the lead with a shot from 10 yards out. Niciforo assisted on this goal as well. The second half was even, but the Pioneers managed to play strong defensively and claim the 2-1 win.

“A great team performance,” said Vistnes after the game, “We bought into the game plan, and therefore we came away with the win.”

She stands with four goals and one assist after the first five games of the season. It seems like the link between Vistnes and last year’s top scorer Niciforo will lead to many goals for the Pioneers this season.

“It is so easy to play with Alexa,” Vistnes explained, “We have a great understanding, and hopefully it will lead us to more good results”

On Saturday, September 15, the Pioneers undefeated streak came to an end after falling to the Caldwell College Cougars 3-2 in heart¬breaking fashion. The Pioneers jumped to an early lead just five minutes into the game off a goal from freshman Hanna Westerling. In the 43rd minute senior Prudence Rystrom extended the Pioneers’ lead to 2-0. However, in the second half, three unanswered goals by the Cougars would lead to the Pioneers first loss of the season.

Despite the loss, the Pioneers move to 4-1-1 for the season, and have gotten off to a better start than last year, when the team started with a 3-2 record after five games.

The women’s soccer team is looking to redeem themselves after last season. The team lost to Dowling College in the conference semi-finals and finished the season with a 9-5-2 record. Head Coach Marc Dawson has brought in a good recruiting class before this season, including aforementioned Vistnes and Swedish midfielder Hanna Westerling, who both seem to be making a big impact on this year’s squad.
Westerling has scored three goals in her first five games, and is off to a great start in her collegiate career. “Hanna has been amazing, and if she keeps using her speed and technique, she will be a very important player for us,” said Vistnes.

The Pioneers’ will host the Dowling College Golden Lions on Wednesday, September 19, at 4 p.m.

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