With three games played prior to LREI’s matchup against BWL the team sat in second place behind Dwight, with 7 points. The dropped points against FASNY certainly represent a speed bump as the team looks to be gathering momentum, but the position the team found itself in was a strong one. Strong, that is assuming they continue to control what they can and pick up the points they need. 

BWL is a team that was outside the playoff picture in 2022, but if the opening minutes of this game are any indication it’s another ISAL team that is improving year on year. The Knights have been slow starters this season, often having to manage opposition momentum in the opening minutes and growing into games over the first half. So it was again in this fixture. BWL threw numbers forward and played deep balls over the top, particularly on the LREI left side. While those deeper possessions didn’t seem to turn into quality chances, there were a couple scrambles in the box that the defense was forced to clear.

The central midfield duo of Charlie Cunningham and Sammi Sapira behind attacking midfielder Romy Kregsman worked hard to close down BWL midfielders who overcommitted their positioning. That eagerness meant that there would be space to exploit on the wings, but they first had to overcome being outnumbered for loose balls. Kregsman worked hard to feed left midfielder Iz Oliver, who worked hard on both sides of the ball, and Sapira to release right midfielder Tanvi Pawar. While the Knights were able to get into those corners though the wingers, they ran into a determined block clogging any attempt to cut inside. Cunningham for her part was quick in the tackle and crucial to forcing BWL wide when they attempted to counter. But the BWL defense was resolute and LREI weren’t able to take up shooting positions that they wanted, rushing a few of the opportunities that they did create. 

The game turned with five minutes left in the first period. A scramble in the midfield was jumped on my Alexa Leitner, having come into the game 5 minutes before. She pulled the ball away from a defender before releasing forward Cassidy Moskowitz, who outraced the defense and tucked the ball away. The goal came close to halftime, and the Knights were up 1-0 at the break. But the score completely changed the way both teams approached the game. BWL were more anxious and the Knights played with a lot more confidence. The result was a flurry of goals that came spread across the second half which resulted in a comfortable win for the away side. A corner resulted in Moskowitz hitting a bouncing ball into the underside of the crossbar and down into the net. Leitner then got herself on the scoresheet in the 52nd minute when she positioned herself well in the box and tucked a ball inside the far post. Moskowiz would cap the scoring off with two more finishes, the pick of the pair being a great run down the left flank by winger Sookie Lee in which she cleverly dribbled two defenders to the line, cut around the corner and squared the ball for Moskowitz’s run. 

The points may have been comfortable in the end, but they are no less crucial. It pushes LREI to the top of the table on their own, and sets up a big matchup against Dwight in the reschedule of their rained out game from earlier in the season. LREI will need a win to continue to outpace the playoff pack who are all racing to catch up. LREI vs Dwight will be on October 10th on Randall’s Island.