BOX SCORE
ST. LOUIS, MO. -- The Rose-Hulman Institute of
Technology women's soccer season came to an end with a narrow
1-0 loss to Denison University in first round action at the NCAA
Division III Championships at Washington University on Saturday.
Senior Jessie Birdwhistell scored the game's lone
goal in the 35th minute to lift Denison to the victory.
The score came from 12 yards out on the left and curved into the
right side of the net.
Rose-Hulman's offensive effort featured six
shots, including four shots on goal. Senior Rachel
Miller (Spring, Texas/ Klein Collins) recorded seven saves
in goal to keep the Engineers within striking distance.
"I'm proud of our effort. They
scored on a perfect goal, really a miracle shot. I thought we were going
to get our chance as well," said Rose-Hulman head coach Brad Hauter.
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Jennifer Gordon looks to set up a
pass. |
Denison outshot the Engineers 13-2 in the first
half, when the Big Red had the distinct advantage of wind at its
back. Both teams had four shots in a competitive second
half.
"The wind played a big factor in field
position, especially in the first half. We were pinned in during the first
half, but played our game in the second half," said Hauter.
The Engineers had two excellent chances to score
in the contest. Junior Liz Ridgway (Grosse Pointe,
Mich./Northwestern U.) sent a crossing pass through the box
that narrowly missed two Engineer forwards midway through the
first half in the first opportunity.
With two minutes left in the second half, a
deflected pass by senior Jennifer Gordon (Zionsville)
ended up in the box, which senior Sarah Graber (Cypress,
Texas/Cy-Fair) deflected near the goal, before a defender
blocked the attempt.
Rose-Hulman also had two long distance shots that
required athletic saves by Denison goalkeeper Liz Gillette, who
tallied a pair of saves. Junior Jen Lyman (Irwin,
Pa./Penn Trafford) and freshman Eli Baca (Santa Fe, N.M.)
fired shots in each half that required Gillette to leap in the
air and make saves.
"We wanted to see where we are among
the nation's best. They're ranked No. 21 and it was anyone's game.
It was a wonderful season, but it's also tough because we're losing six players
who have been the foundation of our program," said Hauter.
Denison improved to 13-5-2 on the
season and advances to second round action in St. Louis on Sunday.
Rose-Hulman completed a historic campaign at 19-3 that included a 16-game
winning streak to close the regular season. The team reached the NCAA
Division III Championships for the first time in school history and captured its
first Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference title.
