Box Score BUCKHANNON – It was a rude ending to a perfect season for the West Virginia Wesleyan Lady Bobcats in the NCAA Division II Second Round Tournament contest with East Stroudsburg here today at Culpepper Stadium.
In a game that just wasn't meant to be for the Lady Bobcats, they lost a 3-0 decision that ended their wonderful 2015 season.
Wesleyan ended their season with a 17-1-3 record.
The Lady Bobcats had only allowed two goals all season long, but the good fortunes were smiling on East Stroudsburg today.
"I give East Stroudsburg all the credit in the world," remarked Wesleyan head coach Patrick Holguin. "They earned everything they got today. They were strong, they were fit and they were good today."
East Stroudsburg scored just 90 seconds into the game when Hannah Gombas hit a corner kick that sailed over Wesleyan keeper Hillary Dewitt into the top right corner of the net.
The Warriors scored their second goal with 90 seconds remaining in the first half.
In almost an identical play, Gombas sent another corner kick in front of Wesleyan's net that Syrandin Deere Vester barely caught as she headed it in to make it a 2-0 game.
Shea Neal iced the game away for East Stroudsburg at the 68:36 mark when she put away a shot from in front of Wesleyan's net.
Sammi Jo Hughes was credited with the assist.
"Our girls worked to the very end," Holguin remarked. "I was very pleased with that. I had all my seniors at the end of the game battling. I thought if we were going to go down, we were going to go down with our experience."
East Stroudsburg owned a 19-11 lead in shots and an 8-7 margin in shots-on-goal.
The Warriors owned an 8-4 lead in corner kicks.
East Stroudsburg (13-6-2) will now play Edinboro (Pa.) in the third round of the tournament.
"We have everything to be proud of and nothing to be ashamed of," concluded Holguin. "I will take a 17-1-3 season anytime. We surpassed just about everyone's expectations of us this season."
(Photo courtesy of Peter Galarneau Jr.)