Statesmen Fall to Evangel on Senior Day
Oskaloosa — Six seniors of the William Penn women’s soccer team were honored on Saturday before their final home game of the year. Taking on the Crusaders of Evangel, the Statesmen were unable to send their seniors off with a victory. Falling down early in the first half, Evangel would not let off the gas and the Statesmen took a 7-1 defeat. They fall to 6-11 overall and 1-9 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play.
Riley Ludwig (Sr., Big Bear City, Calif, Psychology) was back in net for the navy and gold after missing a number of games due to injury. She was tested early by the Crusaders as they got the first corner kick jof the match ust four minutes in, although they did not produce a good look. However, their next trip down the pitch saw their leading scorer given a lane and she buried the shot behind Ludwig. Down 1-0, the Statesmen worked to get back into the contest but their first opportunity by Mady Graham (Sr., Lehi, Utah, Politcal Science) was saved by the Evangel keeper.
Senior Vanessa Hamilton (Sr., Manteca, Calif., Exercise Science) got the next shot away for the Statesmen but it would miss the target. Evangel would score on their next attack, as a nice passing sequence netted them their second goal. Down two, WPU looked to get some offense but only mustered four shots for the first half and two on target. The team played better as the first half came to a close, getting some better looks and holding Evangel to fewer offensive opportunities.
Despite that momentum, the Statesmen would see things get worse at the start of the second, as the visitors got two shots and a goal in the first six minutes. Down three, WPU got a chance to get one back when Kaitlin Falaney (Fr., Ottawa, Ill, Sports Management) was brought down in the box. Iris Navarro (Fr., Ontario, Calif., Biology) shot the ball to the right and into the goal as the keeper dived to the other side, making the score 3-1. Her team high seventh goal of the year, she remains perfect from the spot on the season.
However, Evangel would answer that goal with one of their own just a minute later. Two corner kicks fired in by Isabella Pirami (So., South Jordan, Utah, Exercise Science) could not generate a shot. The navy and gold had limited chances going forward the rest of the game as Evangel controlled most of the play. Despite a good effort, a few more goals would go in for the visitors, as the Crusaders would go on to win 7-1.
William Penn had nine total shots and four corner kicks during the contest. Falaney and Graham tied with a team-high two shots apiece while Ludwig made four saves.
“I am Proud of the seniors, of how they have left this program,” said head coach Jaymee Highcock. “They have been great mentors to our young team and they can be proud of their accomplishments. Today’s game was not how we wanted the game to go, but we will work hard and be ready for the final game of the season against Missouri Valley”
Next Up: The Statesmen will end the season on the road at Missouri Valley, facing the Vikings at 5:00 p.m. on October 30.
