WASHINGTON D.C. - The Penn State Harrisburg women's soccer team was shooting from the hip against conference rival Gallaudet on Saturday, Sep. 15, totaling 30 shots on the afternoon. The Lions were able to keep their recent strong play going and best the Bison 3-1 to pick up their first North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) victory of the 2012 season.
Freshman Rachel Shetler (Pequea, Pa. / Penn Manor) built some early momentum for the team with a rocket shot that found the top right corner from 35 yards out just five minutes into the game.
From that moment on the Lions passing and movement came together better than it had in any other game this season. The ball was moving from sideline to sideline as well up and down the field with a fluid movement. The benefits of the passing and team movement earned a second quality goal that started again with a deep strike, but it was Lauren Ertl (Wildwood, N.J. / Williamstown) who found the crossbar instead of the net. A hard follow up run from Kara Hoy (Camp Hill, Pa. / Camp Hill) earned her a shot on goal and her third goal of the young season.
Unfortunately, one Penn State Harrisburg mental lapse just 38 seconds later put the game back within reach for the Bison. They had earned a corner kick and after setting up quickly and catching the blue and white women off guard, Gallaudet's Katie Benz (Stafford, Va. / North Stafford) set up a great header finish from her teammate Elena Ciccarelli (Whitesboro, N.Y. / Whitesboro). The Lions created plenty of chances to finish the half but the score remained 2-1 heading into the break.
"We played way too well to let the other team still be in the game at the half," said Penn State Harrisburg Head Coach Adam Clay following the match.
The Lions started the second half strong with a great attack from Nikki Francis (Pottstown, Pa. / Owen J. Roberts) as she turned the corner on the Bison defense to hit a great shot on goal. The Gallaudet keeper made the save but could not keep it in and Fay Ansary (Hummelstown, Pa. / Hershey) was right where she was supposed to be to follow up the shot. She left no chance for a save as she strongly stuck the ball just a few yards out into the back of the net.
The game would finish at 3-1 as Penn State Harrisburg kept possession and created plenty of shots but the ladies were unable to add to the scorecard.
"We passed the ball better than any game so far this season," said Clay. "Our movement off the ball and team positioning was also great, which made me extremely happy."
"As happy as I am about our improvement and the way we played today, I can't help being a little let down with our effort level," he continued. "We lost two weeks ago to a very solid team but the last ten minutes we played our hearts out and had the ball on their side of the field even being down 5-0. That is the effort I hope to see all the time, whether we are winning or losing and regardless if it is a practice or a game."
The Lions will definitely need to bring their best effort level if they are going to compete with York College on Tuesday Sep. 18 in a highly anticipated non-conference showdown.