The Shippensburg University women's soccer team took a lead in the eighth minute before falling to regional rival Shepherd in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division action Wednesday afternoon at Shepherd Soccer Complex, 3-1.
Shippensburg's (3-7-2, 2-7-1 PSAC East) took the early advantage through an
Emma Eisenhart header, only for Shepherd (9-3-0, 8-3-0) to respond with three unanswered goals in the span of 10 minutes.
Kamryn Runkle played a major role in the Raiders' opening goal. The SU winger got past a pair of Ram defenders on the right-hand side – the first with a feint of a left-footed cross and turn, then she overcame a heavy touch with a nutmeg to get past another would-be tackler before lifting a right-footed cross into the eighteen-yard box.
Eisenhart timed her run perfectly, leaping high in the air and delivering a strong header past the Shepherd goalkeeper to give SU the lead. The goal was Eisenhart's third of the season.
Shippensburg maintained the lead until just before the half, when Shepherd equalized through striker Olivia Gardner in the 44th minute.
The host Rams scored twice in a three-minute span coming out of the break courtesy of Natalie Zambrano and Ella Morningstar to make it a 3-1 final.
Shippensburg matched Shepherd in shots (4-to-4) and corner kicks (1-to-1) in the first half before being outshot by the Rams 8-to-3 after the intermission. Shepherd also held a 4-to-2 edge in corner kicks in the second half.
SU goalkeeper
Kirstin Brown finished with five saves.
The Raiders are back at David See Field Saturday when they host No. 9 Kutztown at 5 p.m.
