Reading, Pa - The Penn State women's soccer team has come a long way since their first game of the season when they played Dickinson College to a 9-1 loss. After that game there were few that would have believed the team would have a winning season, or even fewer that would have put them as finishing third in the conference and making it to the conference semi-finals. Unfortunately this is where the story will end as Lancaster Bible Chargers took down the Harrisburg lions with a score of 3-0 in the North Eastern Atlantic Conference Semi-Finals.
The game started out strong for the blue and white who had Chargers on their heels and in their own defensive half for the first 20 minutes. Unfortunately with all the attacking play no real goal scoring chances came about. The Chargers only needed one opportunity to put their team ahead and did so with a Whitney Heise goal in the 23rd minute.
The momentum shifted some after the goal, but the blue and white were still fighting hard. They just could not seem to find the final pass or shot to put them back into the game. Towards the end of the half the lions got a couple close scares as the Chargers pushed forward, but were not able to connect and the game stayed at 1-0 going into halftime.
The second half would be an uphill battle for Harrisburg. They would have to come from behind and do this also facing a tough wind gust they had in their favor during the first 45 minutes. Despite being down and against the wind, the lions actually possessed the ball better and created even more offensive chances in the second. Some of this was due to the hard working Mackenzie Gates (Harrisburg, Pa/Central Dauphin) who was moved from her usual role in the goalie position to forward for the second half.
With time dwindling down on the lion's season, the push to get the tying goal was evident. Unfortunately a missed tackle and unlucky touch from a Harrisburg defender gave the Chargers a 2-0 lead from an own goal. The Chargers got a third goal just 5 minutes later in the 72nd minute that sealed the victory for Lancaster.
"We really felt like today was the championship game, Bible is a great team and we felt if we could pull the win off, we would win a championship tomorrow. I am extremely lucky to have had such a great group of girls my first year coaching at the collegiate level." Clay continued with "now the hard part starts, the coaching staff will turn a majority of our attention to recruiting. While the team will enjoy a few weeks off, before starting their off season training program and having to use this game as fuel to the fire until we get another chance at it next fall."
Click here for post game comments from Rachel Shetler, Morgan Gates, and Coach Clay.