Overtime matches are something that the Shippensburg University women’s soccer team has become all too familiar with in the 2013 season. SU was 6–1 in overtime matches coming into Sunday’s NCAA Atlantic Regional semifinal game against Slippery Rock University.
The Raiders dropped a heartbreaking 2–1 game against The Rock in overtime.
SU’s defense was what kept the Raiders within striking distance during a rain soaked game from Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
SRU was able to get off nine shots throughout the course of the game but the Raiders held strong.
SU was out shot in the first half 6–0 but only allowed one goal. SRU’s Lauren Impey capitalized on a free kick that snuck by Raider goalkeeper Shelbie Rackley early in the first half.
Impey recorded four shots and notched one assist to go along with her lone goal.
The Raiders needed to find a way to answer the SRU goal. Kate Zech found that answer for SU in the 61st minute of play.
Raider defender Stephanie Allshouse sent a shot into the box that was initially stopped by the SRU goalkeeper but rolled back in front of the net. Zech corralled the rebound and delivered a strike that found the back left side of the goal.
Allshouse, Zech and Casey Rightmyer were the only Raiders to record a shot in Sunday’s loss.
The defense held strong through the rest of regulation, especially Rackley. The senior goalkeeper recorded two saves in the game.
The first overtime looked as if it were going to end in a tie but with 47 seconds left the Rock delivered the final blow.
SRU was awarded a free kick after a Raider penalty. SRU’s Impey sent the ball across the field where The Rock’s Sam Thornton was positioned to redirect the ball. Thornton leaped and redirected the cross with her head which found the back of the net, crushing the Raiders’ chances of its seventh overtime victory.
Despite the loss the Raiders performed well above everyone’s expectations.
SU finishes a magical season with a record of 12–6–3, the best record since 2002 when the Raiders went 14– 4–2 under head coach Guy Furfaro.
The Raiders’ 12 wins are the third most in SU women’s soccer 20-year history.
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