Soccer (Varsity)
vs. The Hotchkiss School

Game Summary

On Wednesday afternoon, The Ethel Walker School’s varsity soccer team hosted Hotchkiss in their home opener. The game started well for the home team as they scored their first goal of the season just 70 seconds after kickoff. After the visitors struck back to tie it, Walker’s forced an own goal and took a 2-1 lead 12 minutes before halftime. Walker’s doubled their advantage with nine minutes left in the contest, and despite a late goal from the Bearcats, it was not enough as the Wildcats held on to win 3-2.

In the opening minute, Stella-Rose LeCompte ’27 received a pass and broke down the right side of the field. Her shot was saved, but Bayliegh T. ’31 was there for the rebound. Her touch across was tipped by the goalie into the path of Melia Belden ’27 who scored her fifth goal for Walker’s since joining as a junior last fall. The scored stayed 1-0 for more than 20 minutes before a long cross-field pass found Hotchkiss’s left winger who scored a nice individual goal to tie the score.

About five minutes later, LeCompte was on the right flank again and hit a great cross into the box. Bayliegh T was first to it and she won the header. Her shot was going wide but was deflected into the Bearcats’ net for an own goal. On the day, there were her first two career assists in just her third game for the Wildcats. In the opening half, Hotchkiss outshot Walker’s 8-4 and held a 5-2 advantage in corner kicks.

In the second half, the game became chaotic and was a back-and-forth affair. In the 71st minute, Caroline Hayes ’27 played a long free kick into the box and Esther Asamoah ’28 was first to it near the 18-yard line. Her first touch set her up to slot the ball into the bottom right corner with her second and Walker’s took a 3-1 lead. Hotchkiss found the net again with two minutes remaining to tighten up the score, but the final whistle came with Walker’s ahead.

Despite being outshot 16-9 on the day, it was the third straight year that Walker’s earned their first win of the season in this Founder’s League matchup. The Wildcats will host Kent in their next game. Kickoff on Saturday is scheduled for 2:30