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Tabbed for 8th in the pre-season vote of the conference’s coaches, it was apparent the Lady Bulldogs had earned some respect in their 2-15, first year back on the pitch after a two-year hiatuses. But, by season’s end, the McPherson ladies had done them one better, finishing seventh in the final regular season standings, just missing the post-season playoffs by one spot.
After being shut-out in their first two matches, the Lady Bulldogs came away with wins in two of their next three matches at York College in Nebraska and in a non-conference match at Bethel College. And, from that point on, the McPherson ladies were in every match. While competitive in each match, short lapses in focus seemed to haunt the team as it dropped eight and tied one of its next nine. But only twice during that stretch was the margin more than two goals and you could see the confidence of the young team beginning to grow.
The final match of that stretch was against conference leading Friends, which was 11-1 overall. While defeated 3-0, McPherson made the visiting Falcons work for every goal, and with three winnable, conference matches remaining the Bulldogs never hung their heads, but rather stepped up their intensity and went after a berth in the post-season tournament.
First came a 1-0 over Saint Mary. The next week saw McPherson knock off fourth place Bethany 2-1 in Lindsborg, then Bethel 2-0, before concluding their season with a non-conference win over Oklahoma Wesleyan, 1-0. The Lady Bulldogs had done their part with the late season run, but they could also look back at the seven-game stretch at midseason which included one-goal losses to Ottawa, Kansas Wesleyan, and Sterling, the #1, #4 and #5 seeds in the KCAC post-season tournament, as the difference. They just couldn’t get the necessary help of an upset in the standings above them to make it into post-season play.
The Bulldogs’ four-match win streak to end the season is the longest in the history of McPherson College women’s soccer. The Lady Bulldogs’ 6-11-1 overall record easily surpassed the previous record for wins in a season, which stood at two, twice before. Their 3-5-1 record in KCAC play and 7th place finish were also new highs for wins and placing in conference play in a season.
Individually, sophomore Laura Engquist was named to the All-KCAC second team while freshmen teammates Kate Deputy and Lindsey Latham each received honorable mention All-KCAC nods. Engquist and Deputy tied for the team lead in goals scored with six each. Latham was credited with two shut-outs in goal, and posted an 82.9% save rate as McPherson ended the season shut-outs in three of the final four matches.
“As young as we are, we can only get better,” said McPherson head coach Doug Quint noting the team’s only senior was defender Samantha Bishop. “These young ladies have worked hard, putting it all on the line every day in practice and every time they stepped on the field for a game.”
“Defensively, we were tough to score against. Offensively, we have to become better at finishing the opportunities we’re creating.”
“It is exciting to see the potential these young ladies have, the possibilities that lie ahead, and the kind of team they can be in the years ahead.”
