 "Photo: Sholten Singer")
A late goal ended the Marshall University women’s soccer team’s hopes for a playoff berth Friday.
The game against East Carolina University was the Herd’s last opportunity this season to secure its first ever playoff appearance.
“Last year when we played, we really had our eye set on the tournament this year, and it’s disappointing not to get there,” head coach Kevin Long said. “I really would have liked to have taken this team to Dallas.”
Marshall’s 12-7 record is the highest win total in program history, but Long said the accomplishment comes as a bittersweet reminder of a season of ups and downs.
“It was a season of a lot of firsts for us, and I can’t thank the girls enough,” senior goalkeeper Liz Orton said. “Every single one of them is amazing and they have made my time here unbelievable.”
The Herd played a defensive game throughout much of the match and was able to keep the Pirates scoreless at halftime. The game remained tied until ECU’s Amanda Malkiewicz buried a shot past Orton with 14 minutes left in the contest.
Malkiewicz received the ball off of a teammate’s header before turning around and earning her sixth goal of the season. ECU players and coaches were not available for comment following the victory.
“A lot of times when you are playing so much offense it just takes one time through for them to get a goal,” Orton said. “We dominated the whole game but they finished their opportunities and we didn’t.”
After the goal the Herd pressed the ECU defense but was unable to find the back of the net. Marshall shot the ball 19 times in the game including 11 shots in the second half.
“Competitive is nice but it doesn’t always work, you have to get it in the net,” Long said. “When you take 19 shots on frame we can only really look at ourselves.”
After the game a ceremony was held honoring the team’s three seniors Orton, Molly Snead and Becca Voss. Long said he was proud of what the team accomplished this season but he wished the seniors could have experienced postseason games.
“It’s unfortunate that they couldn’t get to the tournament,” Long said. “We were really hoping we could get to the tournament for them because they really have seen this program change.”
Orton said even though the season is over the team will continue to be a close unit in the future.
“We’re so close,” Orton said. “I’m sad to see it end this way but we’ll all stay close and you better believe we’ll still hang out.”
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