Women's soccer loses tough battle

An up-and-down season came to a close tonight for the Shippensburg University women’s soccer team as it lost a hard-fought contest against California University of Pennsylvania 2-1 at David See Field on Saturday night.

After a stout defensive game, both offenses exploded, accounting for three goals in the game’s final 12 minutes.

The Vulcans capitalized first when Haley Henderson blazed through Raider defenders and scorched a shot off of SU keeper Shelbie Rackley’s outstretched left hand and into the right bottom corner of the net.

The Raiders, who were the heavy underdog in the contest, answered right back when Kate Zech tied the game just five minutes later. Zech took advantage of a scrum in the box that left CU keeper Ashley Magruda on the turf, and blasted a shot into the net to tie the game.

The celebration was short-lived; however, as Henderson scored her second goal of the game, which was reminiscent of the first — a blast that deflected off of Rackley’s hand and into the net.

SU, led by strong defensive performance by Kylee Bricker and Cassie Armold, disrupted the Vulcans’ offensive flow throughout. It also limited CU to only three shots on net during the first half.

Rackley had a terrific night in the net, accounting for seven saves.

With the win, the Vulcans clinched the top seed in the PSAC playoffs while SU finishes the year with a 6-9-3 record, including a four-game losing streak.