By: Kyle Keck | Sports Writer
The motif of the Taylor women's soccer team continued on Saturday with the seventh overtime game of the season. The extra time, however, was not enough, as Marian topped the Trojans in a shootout.
Taylor controlled the first half of the match. Whereas the first half remained scoreless, the Trojans outshot the Knights eight to five. Four of these shots were on the goal.Taylor's first half pace gave the Trojans hope of winning the first round of the Crossroads League Tournament.
The second frame featured a shooting clinic by the Knights. Marian took over by outshooting Taylor 10 to a mere two. Although Taylor scrambled to get a shot off, they happened to be the first to find the back of the net.Sophomore Hadlee Yescott gave the Trojans a 1-0 lead at the 56-minute mark, assisted by the foot of junior Shelbi Lowe. Yescott's goal tied Lowe as Taylor's leader in goals with six apiece.
"The ball came to me in the air and I was able to take one touch and then volleyed a shot that found its way in the back of the net," Yescott said. "Everything happened quickly because both (Lowe) and I only took two touches, which I think caught the defenders and goalie off guard."The 1-0 Trojan lead would not last. Marian answered quickly by firing a shot past freshman goalkeeper Lauren Engelkes to knot the score 1-1. Although the Trojans seemed to be sitting at the Knights' table, Lowe accepted the challenge.
"I had no doubt whatsoever," Lowe said. "We wanted it bad enough that we would sacrifice anything for each other and for our seniors to win the game."
Overtime only resulted in a second overtime as the keepers for both teams held a block party. With the overtime periods ending in a stalemate, the match would be decided by a shootout. Marian continued its sharpshooting by capitalizing on all four of its attempts, defeating Taylor 4-2 and ending its season.
"Overall, we played a great game and gave Marian everything that they could handle," head coach Scott Stan said. "I am most proud that every game, we improved as a team and built momentum right up to the final game."
Taylor (8-8-2) graduates two seniors: Courtney Selle and Lauren Pfeifer. Pfeifer joined sophomore Megan Kammer in being selected to the All-Crossroads League Team.
Photograph by Mindy Wildman
