It would have been easy for the Wright State women’s soccer team to overlook its contest versus the Findlay Oilers Wednesday evening.
In the midst of conference play, the Raiders were able to easily dispatch the Division II foe from the Flag City, 4-0, with forward Emilie Fillion leading the way for WSU with two goals.
Wednesday’s contest was a complete mismatch as WSU outshot Findlay 20-3. Raiders head coach Patrick Ferguson used the match to give players who have not seen much playing time some action.
“I get nervous in games like this, it is like standing over a 3-foot putt when everyone expects you to make it,” Ferguson said. “In a game like this, the players come out not mentally focused. But I was very pleased, I thought they were very focused.”
With WSU’s lack of depth, Wednesday’s contest gave Ferguson an important look at how his bench might fair in game action.
“It gives some kids who aren’t getting on the field as much an opportunity to say ‘this is why I should be on the field more,’” Ferguson said. “I think there one or two kids who played well.”
Freshman Paige Aguilera scored her first collegiate goal in the contest. Wednesday was her first contest back after sitting out a pair of games due to mononucleosis.
Aguilera is the Raiders’ lone freshman and could become a key piece to WSU’s attack in future years.
“Everyone is happy, everyone is getting to work together and those of us off the bench, we have to learn how to mesh well together,” Aguilera said. “I think tonight’s game helped us do that.”
With Fillion’s two goals, she leads the Horizon League in goals scored with eight tallies. She said the team was motivated for the match against Findlay despite the caliber of the opponent.
“If you are motivated, you should always be motivated,” Fillion said. “It shouldn’t matter what team we’re playing. I think we actually showed up tonight and played the way we were supposed to.”
Wednesday’s match concluded a three-game home stand for WSU. After being blown out by national ranked West Virginia 4-1 on Sept. 21, WSU has won the last three contests by a combined margin of 7-1.
Ferguson said he has seen improvement with the squad over the last few weeks.
“In the nonconference, it was such a difficult and challenging schedule that we were looking for small successes,” Ferguson said. “We may not have – like a West Virginia or Iowa – gotten the result but there was good things happening. And once we got into conference, we put it all together.”
WSU heads into its next Horizon League match Saturday with a 2-0 record. The Raiders will take on Valparaiso who has not defeated WSU in the regular season since joining the Horizon League in 2007.
