2008 Woodie Awards
Women's soccer bows out of NCAA playoffs
1-0 loss ends Green & White's record-setting season
By Brandon Fox
Rocket Sports Editor
Issue date: 11/16/07 Section: Sports
The loss was the seventh in the last eight games on West Chester's South Campus Field. The only victory in that span came in the Rock's win over Adelphi.
West Chester freshman Sarah Oswald scored the game's only goal in the 58th minute, when she chipped Rock goalie Lauren McManus from 25-yards out.
"Sarah Oswald made a run onto a ball and looked up and saw Lauren off of her line," Herlihy said. "Once she took a look and saw that, she lobbed the ball over Lauren's head. The ball hit around the six-yard line and went into the net. We made a mistake and it cost us."
Coming into the game, both the Rock and West Chester knew that the game would come down to which team would capitalize on the other's mistakes.
"In a big game like that, you live and die by your mistakes, and that one broke the game," Herlihy said.
The loss ended the Rock's season, which saw the Green and White set a school record for wins and climb as high as third in the national rankings.
"I can't say it enough, how proud I am of the girls," Herlihy said. "We played great all season and played just as well in the playoffs. We walked off the field Sunday with our heads held high."
The success in the 2007 season brings high hopes for the 2008 season, but Herlihy says that it will be difficult to replace her three departing seniors: Jaimi Wilson, Kristin "Miko" Mikolajczyk and McGrath, the two-time PSAC-West Player of the Year.
"You can't replace a group like that," Herlihy said. "The work ethic and dedication that they brought to the table day in and day out is unmatched, and I really think that the younger players benefited from being around players that work as hard as they do."
"Of course with Meghan, I mean, what a legacy she leaves. Not to take anything from Jaimi and Miko, but overall, we are really going to miss all three of them and the leadership they provided."
With all but three starters returning, Herlihy feels that her squad has a legitimate chance of duplicating this season's success.
West Chester freshman Sarah Oswald scored the game's only goal in the 58th minute, when she chipped Rock goalie Lauren McManus from 25-yards out.
"Sarah Oswald made a run onto a ball and looked up and saw Lauren off of her line," Herlihy said. "Once she took a look and saw that, she lobbed the ball over Lauren's head. The ball hit around the six-yard line and went into the net. We made a mistake and it cost us."
Coming into the game, both the Rock and West Chester knew that the game would come down to which team would capitalize on the other's mistakes.
"In a big game like that, you live and die by your mistakes, and that one broke the game," Herlihy said.
The loss ended the Rock's season, which saw the Green and White set a school record for wins and climb as high as third in the national rankings.
"I can't say it enough, how proud I am of the girls," Herlihy said. "We played great all season and played just as well in the playoffs. We walked off the field Sunday with our heads held high."
The success in the 2007 season brings high hopes for the 2008 season, but Herlihy says that it will be difficult to replace her three departing seniors: Jaimi Wilson, Kristin "Miko" Mikolajczyk and McGrath, the two-time PSAC-West Player of the Year.
"You can't replace a group like that," Herlihy said. "The work ethic and dedication that they brought to the table day in and day out is unmatched, and I really think that the younger players benefited from being around players that work as hard as they do."
"Of course with Meghan, I mean, what a legacy she leaves. Not to take anything from Jaimi and Miko, but overall, we are really going to miss all three of them and the leadership they provided."
With all but three starters returning, Herlihy feels that her squad has a legitimate chance of duplicating this season's success.
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