WASHINGTON - It was a joyous and celebratory Wednesday evening as the Gallaudet University women's soccer program paid tribute to its senior class at Hotchkiss Field. The Bison recognized junior Payton DeGraw (Salt Lake City, Utah) and sophomore Yasmeen Holguin (Aurora, Colo.), who are both seniors academically, prior to the game as family and friends gathered with them.

Once the game got underway against Trinity Washington University the senior duo paid a major role for the Bison as GU played its best game of the season as it only lost by one goal, 2-1.

DeGraw returned to the Bison lineup for the first time in a month and got the start in net for the buff and blue. DeGraw (0-8) made seven saves in the first half and five in the second half to finish the game with 12 in 90 minutes played. 

Trinity (4-7-2) scored a goal in the 19th minute when Kylie Kemp scored off an assist from Michella Amaguana to take an early 1-0 lead. Trinity had a penalty kick opportunity in the 37th minute when Amaguana took the kick but got denied by DeGraw. The Tigers held the one-goal lead as the teams went into halftime. 

In the second half, Trinity scored its second goal of the game on a crazy acrobatic kick from Amaguana, from the right side near the end line, as the ball went high towards the Bison goal and bounced into the net at the 62:58 mark. 

GU (0-13) broke through in the 83rd minute when junior Courtney Gentzke (Honeoye, N.Y.) crossed the ball into the Tigers goalie box where Holguin was there to strike home the loose ball past Trinity goalie Madeline Kopka (one save) for the Bison goal. This was Gallaudet's first goal since it scored twice at Trinity back on Sept. 14. 

BISON TRACKS

• This was Holguin's first goal of the season and second of her career
• GU got off four shots in the second half and finished with five
• The five shots tie a season-high for the Bison set on Sept. 2
• The Bison took four corner kicks
• DeGraw has recorded 12 or more saves in four games this season
• Trinity Washington tallied 22 shots and three corner kicks
• The two goals allowed is the lowest amount in a game this season for GU

UP NEXT
GU (0-7 United East) will complete the 2022 season this Sunday, Oct. 30, on the road at Penn St.-Abington (4-11-1, 2-5 United East) in a conference game at noon.