Cameron Smith/The Veritas News
Jules Speno prepares to cross the ball in a 6-1 win over Becker College on Sept. 25.
After winning eight of their first nine games, ENC’s women’s soccer team has lost five straight games, including four conference games, to fall to seventh in the Commonwealth Coast Conference.
The team only lost two games in September, but has yet to pick up their first win in October. The Lions’ winning streak lasted from Sept. 7 to 25, but they have lost five straight since Sept. 28.
ENC’s first game in October was on the road against the Roger Williams Hawks on Oct. 5. The result was a 3-2 overtime loss.
Captain Jules Speno (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) answered two early goals by Roger Williams with two of her own in the 34th and 70th minutes, her 9th and 10th goals of the season.
The Hawks’ Katie Lydon scored her third goal of the game on a penalty kick in the 93rd minute, securing her team’s victory.
The Lions then suffered back-to-back 3-0 conference losses to the University of New England Nor’easters and Endicott Gulls on Oct. 12 and 15.
ENC led the second-place Nor’easters in shots, 15-13, and corner kicks, 6-0, but only had two shots on goal in the game.
On Oct. 15, the Lions led once again in shots and corner kicks, both by margins of one, but were not able to score on any of their eight shots on goal.
At 8-6 (1-4), the Lions have four conference games remaining and a shot at the playoffs.
Tina Corey (Canterbury, Conn.) said the Lions can end this losing streak.
“We’ve had some great competition these past two weeks that have really challenged us mentally and physically,” Corey said. “We have made some adjustments and I don’t see why we can’t turn it around for the rest of the season.”
Speno said the freshmen this year have brought enthusiasm and hard work. She believes if the team makes the playoffs, the freshmen will be ready to compete.
“I wouldn’t say that maturity plays a role in being able to compete in the playoffs, but more a sense of the will to want to win and understanding the importance of the playoffs,” Speno said.
The Lions play Western New England homecoming weekend at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19.