SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University women's soccer team opened Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division play with a 2-1 victory over visiting Shepherd on a miserably hot afternoon from David See Field.
 
Shippensburg (3-0-0, 1-0-0 PSAC East) controlled the possession in the opening 20 minutes of each half to push the tempo against Shepherd (0-1-1, 0-1-0), culminating each rush with a tally. The Raiders finished with a 22-13 advantage in total shots and a 9-8 edge in shots on goal.
 
In the 17th minute, sophomore Allie Christman finished off a pass from junior Mara Bowman with a uncontested strike into the net from point-blank range to make it 1-0.
 
It was Christman's first goal of the year and the third of her career, as well as the first collegiate assist for both Bowman and freshman Lauren Ocker – whose throw-in went straight to Bowman to set up the play.
 
The Rams equaled the score 13 minutes later, as Emma Bernardoni sent a free kick toward the SU goal that deflected off the head of a Raider defender and into the net to make the score 1-1.
 
Shepherd replaced its goalkeeper at halftime for the second straight match on Wednesday, with Meghan Byers replacing starter Lulu Fricks in the second half. The Raiders immediately blitzed the Ram cage to start the second half, with Byers making several point-blank saves to keep the score even.
 
Shippensburg, which finished with an 8-3 edge in corner kicks, converted on one of those corners for the game-winning goal. In the 67th minute, sophomore K.K. O'Donnell bent a corner kick straight into the near-side of the goal, marking her first tally of the season and the fifth of her collegiate career.
 
The Raider forwards and midfielders did an excellent job of neutralizing Shepherd at the end of the match, controlling possession around the far corner flag of the offensive zone to prevent the Rams from mounting any scoring opportunities in the final three minutes.
 
Junior goalkeeper Delaney Shifflett was once again strong in goal for the Raiders, making a season-high seven saves en route to her third victory.
 
Shippensburg, off to a 3-0 start for the second consecutive year, travels to Lock Haven on Saturday for a divisional matchup with the Bald Eagles.