With its 3-0 win over Maine-Farmington on Oct. 4, the Spartan women’s soccer team moved into first place in North Atlantic Conference standings.The Spartan team is in the process of turning its entire season around. After dropping the first five games, the team has roared back, rattling off five wins in a row.

Sophomore Maria Arnot says that she feels the team is playing very solid soccer right now and that a main part of that is the team’s ability to pass to each other and play together.

“Our passing game is better than I have ever seen it in the past two years,” she said. “There are a few things that we need to work on, but I think we are playing as a team, which is most important.”

The 5-5-1 team, which hasn’t lost since Sept. 16, has greatly benefitted from solid defensive performances in the backfield. In the five-game win streak, the Spartans have scored 18 goals while not letting their opponents even think about scoring one goal.

“We have three solid defenders and two good goalies, so there is really no flaw [in the team’s defense],” Arnot said.

A big part of the defensive success has been goalkeeper Erika Davis, who in four of the past five games has totaled 10 saves. She has also contributed four solo shutout games and one shutout where she split time in the net with Nakita Baldic.

Arnot praised Davis for her ability to handle things on her own.

“[Davis] is good,” she said. “I mean, like you said, four shutouts. She is really good at one vs. one. Like I don’t think I have seen her let any in.”

The Spartan offense isn’t struggling either.

In four of the five games during the win streak, the Spartans have outshot their opponents 126-27. But while the shot total is amazing, Arnot says that it isn’t good enough just to get the shots off.

“We are getting a ton of shots off, but not finishing. That is one of our biggest problems,” she said. “We definitely need to work on that, me specifically.”

The first place Spartans will attempt to finish their attacks as they try to keep their win streak alive when they host Maine Maritime, a NAC opponent, on Oct. 10.