Photo: St. Bonaventure Athletics
BY GAVIN WATSON, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The St. Bonaventure women’s soccer team finished its 2023 campaign with a 3-2 loss against George Washington on Sunday. With the loss, the Bonnies were officially eliminated from the Atlantic 10 Conference playoffs.
The Bonnies finished with an overall record of 3-8-6 and a record of 2-6-2 in A-10 play.
The Bonnies began A-10 play hot, picking up wins against Davidson and Fordham. But the Bonnies quickly cooled down, losing six of their next seven games. Their final loss gave George Washington its only win in A-10 play all season.
Sophomore forwards Olivia Allen and Ami Komori finished the year as Bonaventure’s two most-productive offensive players. Allen recorded 18 points with six goals and six assists. Komori recorded 12 points with six goals.
However, in the second half of A-10 play teams figured out ways to limit the impacts of both, holding Allen and Komori to a combined 18 shots in Bonaventure’s final five games of the season.
The Bonnies began the year under the new leadership of first-year head coach Donny George. George brought a new play style to Bonaventure, changing the team’s formation to include an extra defender. His players only had the spring to learn their coach’s new system.
“This year, we were getting used to playing our new game model,” said sophomore defender Hannah Walker. “Executing the plan how we intend is only going to get better the more comfortable we get with it.”
This offseason, the Bonnies will lose four seniors: forward McKenna Robinson, forward Alexa Martinos, goalkeeper Mackenzie Nolan and midfielder Lydia Choban.
Many players said they hope to take advantage of their first full offseason with George, hoping to become more comfortable with George’s style of play.
“We are raising the level every day,” said Walker.
Although the Bonnies didn’t reach their goal of making the A-10 Tournament, they said they are proud of their season and feel it was a step in the right direction.
“I think we made huge leaps in becoming one of the top teams in the A-10 this year, even though our record doesn’t show it,” said Walker.
Walker said she is looking forward to next season.
“I think next season will be the best yet as we continue to improve,” said Walker. “I wouldn’t count us out of anything.”
watsongr23@bonaventure.edu
