We're taking a look back at all-time great Chestnut Hill College Athletics games as part of our Griffin Classics series. Check out previous stories:
Chestnut Hill College women's soccer made a statement at the beginning of a new era for the program.
The Griffins were rejuvenated under head coach Seamus O'Connor in their 2009 season. The team that won just five games across its first two years in NCAA Division II turned into one of the top seeds in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC).
With 10 starters returning, including CACC Player of the Year Lauren Riiff ('12), the Griffins now had to live up to expectations heading into the 2010 slate.
An early season matchup on the road against perennial conference title contender Georgian Court University figured to be a big chance to continue their momentum.
"It was the game that proved we were capable of competing with the best teams in our conference," O'Connor said. "Georgian Court had won the CACC tournament in 2008 and lost in the Final in 2009. So, for us to go on the road to play them was a huge challenge."
The Scarlet and Gold, 2-1-1 after a trio of challenges against Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) foes and a conference-opening win against Caldwell College, prepared for a Lions team it had struggled with in its only three previous meetings – getting outscored 17-1.
Georgian Court had broken down the Griffins' defense at ease in the past. But from the start, a concerted effort from a team that conceded just seven goals across its 12 CACC games that year made sure history didn't repeat itself.
Sophomore Jessica Veazey ('13) blanked the Lions with three saves in the first half.
As the game wore on, Georgian Court struggled to break down the Chestnut Hill College back line – including starters Lauren Brown ('12), Shannon Catts ('13), Lauren Nolte ('14), and Amanda Botbyl with defensive midfielder Steph Litty ('14) slotting just above the group – that O'Connor credited as the best group of defenders he's worked with.
"The whole team committed to defending together and they just made it so hard for Georgian Court to get near our goal," O'Connor said. "Like in most teams, the defenders never got the credit or respect they deserved but all the coaches and players knew how lucky we were to have the best group of defenders and goalkeepers in the CACC."
"In that game, it was a thing of beauty to watch them defending individually and as a unit. Their performances were key for our success."
With the Lions' offense dwindling, the Griffins started to get their chances. Chestnut Hill College tallied seven shots and five corner kicks in the second half, waiting for its moment to come.
And who else would it come from other than the program's eventual all-time leading scorer and future Griffin Athletics Hall of Fame honoree.
In the 57th minute, Riiff had the ball at her feet after Botbyl carried the ball out of the defensive end and slotted a pass to her.
Gliding past several defenders, Riiff launched a shot far post that landed in the top left corner of the net to finally give Chestnut Hill College its breakthrough.
"The goal by Lauren Riiff was typical of the majority of her goals for us," O'Connor said. "Lauren had to use a combination of her strength and her amazing 1v1 skills to beat a couple of defenders and place a shot out of the reach of the goalkeeper."
The Lions still had 30 minutes to find an equalizer, but the Scarlet and Gold defense was too strong on the day – holding Georgian Court without a shot on goal in the second half to earn the 1-0 win.
The result started a successful run in conference play for the Griffins, who lost just one CACC regular season game thanks to a team-leading 14 goals from Riiff and key contributions from freshmen Carly DiGiovanni ('14), Kaelyn Pizarro ('14), and Marykate McShane ('14).
Despite the success, which included earning the team's first CACC playoff win, Chestnut Hill College met Georgian Court once again in the conference semifinals and fell 2-1.
"It was definitely one of my favorite teams I've ever coached," O'Connor said. "They deserved to win the CACC tournament that season and I still regret it every day that I was not able to help them win it all because that season, they were the easily the best team in the conference."
The team left its mark on the program record books. Its 14 wins are the most in school history – Division II or Division III – and the second seed is the Griffins' highest-ever finish in the CACC.
"This was a special group of ladies and they proved that good people can succeed," O'Connor said. "The key for them was they genuinely cared for each other and they worked so hard every day to become the best team possible."
