The Lady Govs women’s soccer teams’s valiant effort fell one penalty short against SIU-Edwardsville in the Ohio Valley Conference Quarterfinals. The Panthers, after 90 minutes of regulation and 20 minutes of overtime, prevailed 5-4 over APSU. The season for the Lady Govs (10-6-4) came to an end with the loss.
Maggie Ethridge, who took the first penalty of the shootout, saw her attempt saved, putting APSU behind 1-0 early. The following takers for the Lady Govs, Jennifer Smith, Nicole Wojcik, Sophia Fabbro and Mary Parker Powell, connected on their penalties. SIUE’s Avery Anderson slid home the winning penalty in the bottom of the fifth frame.
Junior Lindsey Todd played the entirety of the game, including penalties, and recorded four saves for the red and black visitors. Todd ended the season with a 0.68 average of goals allowed per game, the second lowest average allowed in program history.
The season may have ended with a first round exit, but it brings a lot of accomplishments for Head Coach Kelley Guth and company, including Guth’s 100 win in the seasons beginning stages. Junior Kirstin Robertson finished the season with 11 goals, a feat that ties her at 36th in the nation. APSU also recorded a 10 win season, the first time since 2013. The 10 wins battled the Lady Govs back into the postseason, ending a two season postseason drought when they ended one position out of the 2015 edition. The Lady Govs also snapped a 4 game losing streak to Murray State with a 0-0 draw on Oct. 27.
APSU recorded four shots, with one on goal. The game marks the end to the APSU careers of five seniors: Brianna Avitabile, Gina Fabbro, Mary Ruth Locastro, Natalie Smith, and Nicole Wojcik.
SIUE advances to the semifinals to play Murray State.
