Box Score (New/Sortable Format) SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (November 15) – For the Edinboro women's soccer team, a third time was not a charm as they lost to No. 24
Shippensburg 1-0 in the first round of the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Tournament. The Lady Raiders, the third seed in the Atlantic Region, avenged an early season 3-0 loss to the Fighting Scots by knocking them out of the PSAC Tournament after a 0-0 tie in a shootout, 4-3, and prevented Edinboro, the sixth seed, from winning its first NCAA Tournament game in its third appearance in the tournament. The Fighting Scots finish the season 12-6-2 while Shippensburg improves to 12-5-3 and moves on to play Slippery Rock.
The beginning of the first half tested both teams defensively. Shippensburg received a free kick right outside the box that Carolyn Smith shot across the ground to the left side and was turned away by
Meghan Kelly. Soon after, Edinboro's
Shannon Regan ripped a shot on net that Shelbie Rackley just got a hand on to prevent a goal. After that, the Fighting Scots held possession the majority of the half, but were tested once by the Lady Raiders who took two shots, one saved by Kelly and the other blocked during the 21
st minute. Over the course of the final 21 minutes of the half, the Fighting Scots held a six to zero shot advantage, including multiple strikes from
Allyson Overly and
Becca Costello that had a chance. Rackley was superb in the first half though, turning away all seven shots she faced.
Shippensburg finally scored against the Fighting Scots in the 71
st minute. After a strong drive by Kate Zech, she passed it into the box where Caitlin Sheehan hit one across the ground and into the left side of the net for a goal. It was the first time the Lady Raiders have scored on Kelly in five games facing her. Rachel Hess had another opportunity less than a minute later but was denied by Kelly near the post. After controlling the first half, Edinboro did not manage to put a single shot on net in the final 45 minutes, while the Lady Raiders finished the second half with four shots on goal.
"We had several opportunities to score in the second half," said Edinboro head coach
Gary Kagiavas. "The keeper (Shelbie Rackley) pulled off a couple of really good saves. We have one mental breakdown, the kid miskicks the ball, and next thing you know it's a goal."
This was Shippensburg's first NCAA Tournament appearance and subsequently its first ever tournament victory. The Fighting Scots head into the offseason following another strong season and will look to build off of that next year, as they lose only one player to graduation.