One of the top seasons in the near-30-year history of Ashland University women's soccer came to an end on Friday (Dec. 1) night, as the No. 2-ranked Eagles lost 1-0 to No. RV Grand Valley State in an NCAA Division II third-round postseason game at Ferguson Field.
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Ashland's final 2023 record is 19-1-4, and that .875 winning percentage is the fifth-best in program history. This year's Eagles played more games in a year (24) than another other, tied the program mark for most overall wins (2004) and NCAA playoff games won (1998 and 2004), and ended with 19 clean sheets - two shy of the D-II record.
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"You're disappointed in the result tonight," said Ashland head coach
Cayleb Paulino. "But, if you're ever to say Ashland University went toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the country and didn't blink, you wouldn't have said that at the beginning of the year.
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"And that's the growth of the group, and the way that the program has moved and the standard that the group has created. Soccer is a cruel sport, and sometimes, it doesn't bounce your way. We did enough to win today, and we didn't back down. The ball just didn't bounce our way today."
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The Lakers are 14-3-6.
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After no score in the first 86 minutes and 54 seconds, the Lakers' Taylor Reid weaved her way into the Eagle 18, and her left foot shot provided the game's final margin.
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POST-GAME NUGGETS
- Grand Valley had an 11-10 edge in shots, and the Eagles took eight of the game's 11 corner kicks.
- Junior goalkeeper Maddie Dolenga made five saves on Friday night.
