Fightin’ Engineers Claim Win against Ravens in Oscillating Battle

The Anderson University women's soccer team secured a fourth-place finish in the 2021-2022 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference regular season before heading into post-season play. The Ravens took on the Rose-Hulman Fightin' Engineers on Wednesday at the AU Women's Practice Fields. The high scoring match saw the Fightin' Engineers walk away with a 3-2 victory over the Ravens after 90 minutes of regulation.

Both teams would have one shot each just over two minutes into the half. Rose-Hulman (11-2-2, 7-1-1) would then go on an offensive attack, ripping off seven shots before finding the back of the net on their eight. Christina Rogers gave the Fighitn' Engineers their lead in the 13^th minute.

Rose-Hulman would have two more shots before a battle in the midfield ensued. Then, in the 38^th minute, Lauren Brown (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Homestead) would put the Ravens (7-7-2, 6-2-1) on the board off a Harper Manion (Lebanon, Ohio / Bishop Fenwick), tying the game up 1-1. It was the third time Lauren Brown has scored this year off a Harper Manion assist.

As it looked like the game was heading into halftime tied 1-1, the Fightin' Engineers had other plans. In the 44^th minute. The Fightin' Engineers took their second lead of the game, this time by Megan Foder off a Jayden Gibson corner kick. The Ravens would head into halftime trailing the Fightin' Engineers 2-1.

Anderson would apply the offensive pressure coming out of the half with Jessica Pulaski (Centerville, Ohio / Centerville) taking an immediate shot, hitting it out right.

Just over 10 minutes into the second half, the Ravens once again tied the game. This time with a goal in the 54^th minute off a banger shot from Lillie Casey (Loveland, Ohio / Goshen).

Anderson and Rose-Hulman continued their battle for third place in the remaining minute. A goal in the 71^st minute for Rose-Hulman by Sarah Shoemaker gave them their final goal of the match, and ultimately the game winner for the Fightin' Engineers. Christina Rogers assisted the goal. The Raven were unable to get another shot off before the final whistle as they fell to the Fightin' Engineers 3-2.

The box score shows Rose-Hulman outshooting Anderson 18-6 with five shots on goal compared to the Ravens three. Jessica Pulaski led the Ravens with two shots. Lauren Brown and Lillie Casey both hit their only shots into the back of the net. Izzy Wilson (Decatur, Ind. / Bellmont) recorded her one shot on frame. Corissa Horton (Fountaintown, Ind. / Triton Central) rounded out the Ravens shots with one.

Head Coach Jennifer Myhre has the following to say after Wednesday's match: "Looking back on the conference regular season this team has a lot to be proud of, with the most conference wins and competing with the best of them. This has been one of our most dynamic attacking groups, scoring on every conference team and having lots of players being involved. We had quality goals [Wednesday] from Lauren and Lillie and the Lauren-Harper duo is connecting well!

We are excited to extend our season together and look forward to hosting this weekend. Making it to the conference tournament is never taken for granted. I am proud of this team and the way they have come together and play for each other."

With the loss, the Ravens still find themselves with a fourth-place finish as they now head into post season play. Anderson finishes off the regular season with a 6-2-1 record. The Ravens scored 31 goals in conference off of 194 shots and tallied 21 assists. Fourth-seeded Anderson now set to host the fifth-seeded Transylvania Pioneers (9-5-2, 5-4-1) on Saturday in the first round of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament! The match is set to start at 11 a.m. at Macholtz Stadium.