After winning their last two games of the regular season, the Shepherd University women’s soccer team narrowly squeaked into the Mountain East Conference (MEC) women’s soccer tournament taking place at Duvall-Rosier Field in Fairmont, W.Va. In semifinal action on Saturday, Nov. 7, top-seeded Notre Dame College tallied a pair of goals in the first half and never looked back on their way to handing the Rams’ 2–0 defeat.
The loss ended the season for the Rams who finished with a record of 7–9–3. Notre Dame College scored the first goal of the game in the 32nd minute when Magail Heaps headed in a well-placed corner kick by Karla DiJohn to give the Falcons a 1–0 advantage. At the 42:03 mark, the Falcons added on an insurance goal to take a 2–0 lead when Kathrine Beattie grabbed a misplayed ball by the Rams’ defense and put it past senior goalkeeper Elizabeth Wise for the score. Notre Dame’s defense was consistently impenetrable as they allowed the Rams’ only shot on goal during the entire match. In addition, the Falcons held an 8–3 advantage in corner kicks.
Notre Dame College advanced to the MEC finals game on Sunday, Nov. 9. However, they fell to West Virginia Wesleyan by the score of 1–0. Prior to their semifinal match against Notre Dame College, it was announced that four members of the Shepherd University women’s soccer team would be named to the 2013 All-Mountain East Conference women’s soccer team. Senior defender Erika Martin started 17 games and played a critical part of the Rams’ defense that recorded six shutouts and allowed only one goal on six occasions this season. Junior midfielder Taylor Amsley started 13 games and led the Rams with five goals for 10 points during the season. Junior midfielder Kasey Canterbury started 16 games and recorded two goals and three assists this season. Finally, junior defender Kelsey J. Smith started all 18 games, recorded one assist and was an important part of the Shepherd defense the entire season.
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