Going into last weekend, LU women’s soccer held on to a slim chance of once again tasting playoff glory – something with which only the seniors of this year’s team are familiar. The scenario needed for advancement was as follows: the Vikings needed to beat both Illinois College and Monmouth College and Monmouth needed also to lose to underdog St. Norbert.
After traveling a distance comparable to the width of the state of Wyoming, the Vikes managed to take care of host Illinois College in dramatic fashion. After pummeling the IC defense with 24 shots, freshman striker Jackie Bean converted her team-high fifth goal of the season on the last shot of the game with a mere four seconds remaining. This would stand as the only goal of the game and give the ladies a reason to check the score for the St. Norbert-Monmouth game.
Unfortunately, the women would meet the Fighting Scots on Sunday knowing of their elimination from the postseason at the hands of a 5-0 Monmouth win over St. Norbert. The team’s seniors then proceeded to play their last game in navy and white to the tune of a 5-1 loss.
Five of the six seniors started in the game and midfielder Claire Thompson-Vieira would chalk up the only Viking score. The losses of Thompson-Vieira, Emily Cain, Maggie Leverance, Beth Shaker, Jessie Lyon, and Mallory Sturmer will decimate the LU midfield and backfield as well as remove much of the team’s physical presence. The challenge of replacing such a core unit will be sure to test returning players’ offseason tactics as well the coaching staff’s recruiting abilities.
No southern luck for women’s soccer
