Kimberlin Heights, TN - The Bluefield Rams faced off against Johnson University on Saturday, marking their final match of the season. Despite their best efforts, the Rams fell short, losing 4-0 in a tough conference showdown.
Offensively, the Rams showed promise with notable efforts from Macy McBride, Liberty Wolf, Joanna Lemus-Rios, Moriah Mingo, and Kaylei Newman, each contributing to the attack. In goal, Emily Spaulding put forth a commendable performance, racking up 9 saves throughout the match.
The Rams wrapped up their season with a record of 4-11-2 overall and 2-9-2 in conference play. This season was historic for the program, highlighted by several standout performances.
Offensive Highlights:
Defensive Highlights:
Despite being picked lower in the preseason polls, the Rams finished tied for 11th, a significant achievement that reflects their hard work and dedication. This season marked the highest win total for the women's soccer team since 2017, along with the third-best conference record in school history.
Head Coach Patrick Ritter expressed his gratitude for the season, stating, "I want to say a big thank you to all of our seniors and returning graduate students. They showed their dedication to Bluefield and the program for many tough years to get where we are this season. We couldn't be more proud of them."
Ritter also reflected on the team's resilience: "It was a historic year for Bluefield all around. We started the year with some strong wins, which included a 1-0 score against the current #9 team nationally in USCAA DII, Penn State Mont Alto. We also had a strong showing at home, going 2-3-2 in AAC games, which was packed with memorable late goals. Two in the last 7 minutes by Joanna to tie Bryan, the game winner with 19 minutes left by Taylor to get our first ever conference win against St. Andrews, and Kaylei finding the net in the final 8 minutes to tie Brenau. There was a fight to this team that we haven't witnessed in a long time."
Looking ahead, Ritter noted the growth of the team: "Our young players came in and excelled, mixing really well with our strong core to increase our competitiveness in practices and games. After being picked preseason in 14th by the conference, we knew we could move up. Finishing 11th was a big step forward to closing the gap with the rest of the conference and can't wait to see how everyone continues to grow this offseason."
As the Rams prepare for next year, they are committed to hard work and improvement, with the goal of building on their successes and further solidifying their presence in the conference.
