Confidence is high as we near the midpoint of the Wright State women’s soccer season. The team is riding high off a 2-0 win over Morehead State on Sunday and Horizon League play is around the corner.
“We’ve been improving a lot every game, but the conference season is the real test for us,” forward Emilie Fillion (Sr.) said.
Conference play begins in Wisconsin this Saturday as the Raiders play the reigning Horizon League champions (Milwaukee) before coming home for four of their next five games.
The last time the Panthers and the Raiders met it was for last year’s conference championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. But WSU lost the match 5-1.
This year’s squad is playing with a lot of confidence, according to Head Coach Pat Ferguson.
“We’re really confident. We’ve faced a lot of different tests and have gotten progressively better this season,” Ferguson said.
Ferguson has implemented a slower, possession-style type of offense this season and his players have been responded with a 4-2-3 record.
“We’re not quite as athletic this year, but we have better soccer players. It’s very tiring for the other team to defend the whole game,” Ferguson said.
“(The style) has been working for us. We have the players to play that way,” Fillion said.
Both Fillion and Ferguson were quick to point out the impact goalkeeper Brooke McMurdy (Jr.) and the rest of the Raider defense has on the team.
“Brooke has been saving us a lot,” Fillion said.
Ferguson mentioned two other players, as well as McCurdy, who have been stand outs on the team so far this year.
“Lauren Patterson has been very good on defense and Ashley Miltko has also played very well for us,” Ferguson said.
McCurdy has recorded three shutouts for WSU so far this year, while Patterson has contributed a goal on four shots. Ashley Miltko (So.) has already placed three shots in the back of opposing team’s nets, with two coming against IUPUI on Sep. 9th.
The contributions have come from across the board. Both goals from Sunday’s 2-0 win over Morehead State came from freshmen, as Kalee Thompson scored at the 33 minute mark in the first half while Ini Umotong put the game on ice when she scored with 1:08 remaining in the game.
“The freshmen have really been improving,” Fillion said.
With conference play looming, the Raiders are looking at the Horizon League title.
“We feel the conference tournament and title are within reach this year. Definitely,” Fillion said.
