SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University women's soccer team opened its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division slate Wednesday with a close defeat to No. 19 Shepherd under the lights at David See Field, 2-0.
The Raiders (1-1-1, 0-1 PSAC East) battled the regional rival Rams (3-0-0, 2-0) with gritty effort alongside a season-high 10 saves from goalkeeper
Kirstin Brown.
Shippensburg was outshot by the Rams 20-to-4, including a 12-to-1 deficit in shots on target, but the Raiders maintained a 5-to-1 edge in corner kicks.
Shepherd forward Reagan Ackerman scored both of the Ram goals, beginning with a strike from a Merritt Delk assist in the 17th minute.
The score remained 1-0 at halftime, and the SU gameplan to use fresh legs to press the centerbacks of the possession-oriented Rams paid off with several turnovers resulting in dangerous counter opportunities, particularly in the second half.
The Raiders' best chance at leveling the score came in the 82nd minute.
Emma Eisenhart won a Brown goal kick in midfield, heading the ball into the path of teammate
Lannah Werynski. Werynski surged down the left wing, making her way into the box and squaring a pass across the face of goal, where teammate
Katie Proctor came inches away from a potential tap in into a wide-open net.
Ackerman netted her second following up on a Brown save just two minutes later.
Brown's outstanding performance was highlighted by an impressive double save to deny both Ackerman and Ella Morningstar from close range early in the second half.
SU returns to action Saturday on the road at Bloomsburg. Kick-off is set for 1 p.m.
