In a contest that Wright State head coach Pat Ferguson said his squad had to win, the Raiders dispatched first-year Horizon League member UIC 2-0 Saturday in WSU’s 2014 home finale.
The Raiders outshot the Flames 25-5 for the contest with 17 of WSU’s shots coming in the first half.
“I put pressure on them and for the young kids, the kids coming back next year, it is good to be put in that position,” Ferguson said. “We have to win, there is no tomorrow.”
WSU’s Bryce Hueber scored off a free kick from 20 yards in the eighth minute after teammate Paige Aguilera drew a foul. Hueber’s goal held up as match’s lone goal for the majority of the match.
WSU struggled to match the same intensity it had in the first half when the Raiders outshot the Flames 17-1 in the half. While UIC had a lot of the possession in the second half, the Flames were unable to get any quality chances on goal.
“We had about an 18 minute lull in the second half,” Ferguson said. “We’re still learning how to play calm and finish a game and not panic.”
It was not until the 84th minute when senior Natalie Sedlock put the game away with a breakaway goal to lift WSU to a 2-0 advantage.
“It felt like we were panicking so that goal put us at ease,” Sedlock said.
Last Saturday’s win keeps the Raiders tied for sixth place in the Horizon League standings. WSU is one of five teams battling for the final four spots in the Horizon League Championships.
Wright State’s regular season finale is Friday at Oakland. If the Raiders win, they will clinch at top-four seed and host a first-round match in the Horizon League tournament. A tie ensures both Oakland and WSU a spot in the conference tournament. A loss means WSU’s season likely comes to a close.
“It is a big one, it will be interesting,” Sedlock said. “The seniors would really like (having another home game). It would be an advantage having it here.”
