Women’s soccer loses a pair, wins one

The Lady Royals soccer team bounced back after two losses to crush Randolph-Macon Woman’s College by a score of 8-0 at Bomberger Field on Tuesday afternoon.

Wednesday, Oct. 1st, the women played long-time rival Bridgewater College, losing 2-1. The loss gave the Eagles their first Old Dominion Athletic Conference victory of the year, placing them at 4-6-0 overall. The lone goal of the first half was scored against EMU on a free kick by Courtney Williamson 27 minutes into the game. Ellie Lind tied the game up at 1-1 when she hit the back of the net on a breakaway with only 14:15 left on the clock. Even with a jump-start by Lind, the Royals still fell short when Beverly Walsh scored off a corner with only 8:20 left in the game. The loss dropped the Royals to 4-2 in ODAC standings.

The women then played nationally ranked Messiah Monday, losing by a score of 3-0. The Royals shut-out the Falcons in the first half. Freshmen goal keeper, Joy Shaiebly had 11 saves while the Royals’ defense showed strong teamwork, but the Falcons came out shooting in the second half handing the Royals their second loss in a row. Erin Benedict scored the first of her two goals two minutes into the period. Emily Benson then scored a goal late into the game to clinch the game for the Falcons.

On Tuesday, the Lady Royals came back fighting when they pounded Randolph-Macon Woman’s College 8-0. The rampage began before the half with Ellie Lind netting the first goal of the game with a breakaway. Senior goalkeeper Rochelle Yoder then got a different view of the field, and the goal, when she netted her first goal of the season off a cross from mid-fielder Laura Beiler. Freshman forward Vanessa Rice scored the last goal of the half to put the Royals up 3-0.

The ladies came out fired up in the second half to continue the onslaught. Mid-fielder Audra Baker scored the first goal of the second half and then added another later in the period. Captain Kendra Martin also netted a goal for the Royals while Rice and Lind added another tally to their total. Beiler led the Royals in assists with two, followed by Lind with one. The Lady Royals are now 6-4 overall and 5-2 in ODAC play. The women will face Southern Virginia University during Homecoming festivities this Saturday at 3:30 on Bomberger Field.