Column: Next season will be exciting
The Eastern women’s soccer season has come to an end after a solid performance in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament.
The Panthers season ended in the semifinals of the OVC Tournament as they were defeated 2-1 by the eventual champions, Morehead State.
Head coach Summer Perala’s squad turned in a record of 7-9-5 in 2010.
I quickly realized that the women’s team plays with a high level of intensity and leaves it all out on the field.
The Panthers are a fun team to watch, and they competed in every game throughout the season.
The Panthers season was a roller coaster ride that was full of highs and lows.
Perala’s squad suffered through two four-game winless streaks, two games being decided by an own goal and tough losses in the final minutes of the game.
The main contributor to the sub .500 season for the team was its road record.
The Panthers turned in a record of 1-7-3 in games played away from Lakeside Field.
The 2010 season also had its high points as the Panthers were winners of their first two games of the season for the first time since 2001 and winners of two games decided in the final seconds of regulation.
The Panthers also did a good job defending their home turf as they compiled a 5-2-2 record while playing at Lakeside Field.
Along with the dramatic victories, the Panthers ended the regular season on a high note as they rattled off five straight games without suffering the bitter taste of defeat to secure a spot in the OVC Tournament.
The Panthers also notched a tournament victory over Eastern Kentucky in the first round of the OVC Tournament.
The defense is among the elite in the OVC and shut down the offensive attacks of countless teams this season.
Senior goalkeeper Kaylin Lorbert did a fantastic job between the crossbars this season, and her name will certainly be in the running for the player of the year award.
Lorbert tallied eight shutouts in 19 starts in her senior season.
Opponents averaged a mere 0.61 goals per game while Lorbert was in goal.
The offensive attack was inconsistent at times, but managed to score enough goals throughout the season to keep the Panthers tournament hopes alive.
Sophomore forward Kristin Germann led the way for the Panthers with six goals.
Junior midfielder Ashley Eck topped the team with four assists in 2010.
Perala did a great job with her squad this season, and with a majority her starters returning next year, I expect 2011 to be an exciting season.
Jordan Pottorff can be reached
at 581-7942
