FSU Women’s Soccer Season Ends After Impressive Playoff Run

On Saturday, Nov. 5, the FSU women’s soccer 2016 season came to an end after a 1-0 defeat against Christopher Newport University in the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) championship game. The Bobcats finished their season with a record of 10-9-1.

After earning a first round bye in the CAC tournament following a successful round of regular season conference play, the FSU women’s soccer team saw their first playoff action on Wednesday, Nov. 2, against St. Mary’s College. The game was played at Bobcat Stadium and proved to be a dramatic result for the Bobcats. St. Mary’s took an early lead following a well-taken free kick from Emily Huey that found the back of the net in the 24th minute. However, the Bobcats were able to answer with a score in the 63rd minute of play, when sophomore defender Danielle Ferris was able to capitalize off a corner from senior forward Jessi Martz and tie the game at 1-1. Following the end of regulation and two overtime periods, the score was still tied 1-1, and the game headed to a penalty-kick shootout. In the shootout, Frostburg State showed incredible focus and composure, dispatching their opponents by a score of 4-2.  For the Bobcats, goalkeeper Rhianna Lapen, Martz, forward Brooke Shehade, and midfielder Melanie Bell all found the back of the net, with Bell’s strike past St. Mary’s keeper Sydney Larkin proving to be the winning shot.

Following their exciting shootout victory against St. Mary’s, the FSU women faced Christopher Newport University in the 2016 CAC women’s soccer championship game on Saturday, Nov. 5. In that contest, the Bobcats fought hard, but were unable to outmatch CNU’s powerful offensive attack. Christopher Newport scored the only goal of the game for either team in the 17th minute, when Carson Pokorny knocked a header into the back of the FSU net following a service from teammate Victoria Perry.  Lapen battled in goal for FSU, making seven saves in the game to keep the Bobcats within a goal, but that equalizer never materialized for Frostburg. The Bobcats fell by a final score of 1-0, impressive given that they were outshot by a tally of 21-3.

The 2016 season is in the books for the FSU women’s soccer team.  Following a slow start, the Bobcats bounced back to win seven of their last nine matches and give Frostburg fans an exciting playoff run, along with hope for an exciting season in 2017.