Lining up for the first time this season, LREI put out five new starters from the team that made it to the ISAL championship game last fall. Some of the returners from that game who started here include defenders Ana Ziebarth (junior) and Jane Olsen (senior), and midfielders Sarah Katz (junior), Lily Parks (junior) and Olivia Roederer (senior). Olsen and Roederer are both in their fourth season with the team. Early in the game with Grace LREI managed to move the ball well, using passing sequences that found gaps in the middle of the field. But couldn’t generate much in the way of quality shooting opportunities. But the Knights gave up several dangerous chance on the counter. When Grace won the ball they would hit deep passes to their speedy forwards in behind the LREI defense. Olsen and sophomore defender Charlotte Peyser did well on many opportunities to chase back and snuff these chances out. As the half wore on Grace found momentum, and managed to use one of these long plays up the middle to take control of the game, giving themselves a 1-0 advantage at the half. The swing in control continued after the break, and Grace would find another quickly in the 45th minute. Coming quickly down the LREI left side the ball came into the box and was finished neatly at the back post. The Knights began generating chances through the wing around the 60th minute, with freshman forward Josie Parks dropping deeper to try to feed the wingers, and sophomore midfielder Mia Schulte creating numerous turnovers high up the field. Freshman midfielder Leah Maathey had a very good game, covering a ton of ground and showing a lot of skill on the ball. But LREI could never find that one chance they needed to get back into the scoreline. The more they pushed the higher up the field they played. And, as is so often the case, they got punished one more time for going all out offensively. In their zeal to find the net the Knights were forced to leave space in behind. And Grace would hit that space one last time for their third. LREI continued putting the pressure on, and would eventually get in the board, but not until the 80th minute. Senior Olivia Roederer’s corner came in low to the near post, but when a Grace defender botched their attempted to clear it Josie Parks was there to pick up the loose ball and put it just inside the near post. The whistle blew not long after. LREI start the season of 0-1, but have yet to open league play in the ISAL. Their next game comes on Wednesday, September 11th against FASNY. Their first league game happens September 18th verses Avenues.