Resiliency has been the storyline for the Shippensburg University women’s soccer team this season. 

Wednesday, the Raiders grabbed their first win of the season, taking home a 2-1 victory over Mansfield University in overtime. 

That resiliency made its return in the second half, when the team fell behind after allowing a goal early in the second half.

The team kicked into action, evening the score at 1-1 after Isabella Weigel created some separation at the top of the box and picked a corner for her second goal of the season.

The Raiders continued to hold possession in the Mounties’ defensive third, forcing Mansfield to turn away shot after shot. 

SU secured 16 corner kicks throughout the course of the game, while allowing only two for the Mounties.

SU’s persistence down the pitch had Mansfield reeling for an answer, but SU freshman Taylor Moore had other plans as overtime got underway. 

Less than two minutes into the first overtime, Moore slipped past the Mansfield defense, using her speed to slip a shot between two defenders as the opposing goalie helplessly watched the ball trickle into the net. 

The goal marks Moore’s first in a Raider uniform, notching a game winner in the team’s second Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) game of the season. 

SU looked to build on its first win against Indiana University of Pennsylvania Saturday, but fell just short, dropping the PSAC match, 1-0.

SU’s offense had trouble gaining traction in the offensive zone, only managing three shots on net against the Crimson Hawks. The team fell behind off a corner kick in the first half, which deflected off a head and found the twine behind freshman goalie Delaney Shifflett. 

The Raiders came out slow to start the game, but settled in over the course of the second half to turn the tides for some offense. After allowing six corners in the first half, SU picked up five of its own in the second, allowing just one for the Crimson Hawks. 

For the rest of the game, Shifflett stood tall, registering seven saves to keep the Raiders within striking distance of IUP. SU hung tough up to the very end, securing a corner kick in the last minute to swing in a chance on net. Shippensburg was unable to convert, though, dropping its second game of the season and first of its four-game road trip. 

The team turned away 15 of IUP’s 16 shots, but only managed to put three of its own on net against a tough Crimson Hawks defense. 

The Raiders will hit the road once again to take on their fourth straight PSAC opponent. SU and Clarion University square off Saturday at 6 p.m. in Clarion.

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