Last season the women’s soccer team finished with as many wins as they did losses, narrowly missing the post-season by just five points. This year, the Raiders strive to close the gap and return to the post-season as they did in 2013.
This year’s team returns 21 players, a decisive factor into being awarded an eight seed in the PSAC Pre-season Coaches’ poll. The top eight teams in the PSAC qualify for the post-season tournament.
Among Shippensburg’s returning players are standout defender Rachael Friend and goalkeeper Kayla Kennedy. Friend’s strong defensive play earned her a spot on the All-PSAC team, while Kennedy, in just her freshman season, set an SU single-season record for goals against average (.54). Kennedy surrendered just nine goals all season and posted eight shutouts.
The Raiders defense as a whole was stingy all of last season, allowing just 14 goals in 17 games—tying a school record.
On offense SU returns its top four scorers—including forward Jenny Litz who posted a team high of five goals last season.
SU begins its season on a rough stretch, as five of its first six opponents are currently ranked in the top eight of the PSAC. The Raiders catch a break at the end of the season with outings against Mansfield and Lock Haven, teams who claim two of the bottom three spots in the PSAC rankings. Ship’s season finale is a home game against no. 9 ranked IUP—which could determine who advances to the post-season.
Shippensburg opens its season with an away match-up against PSAC rival California on Thursday Sept. 3.
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