Emory, Va. - Coach Linda Schirmeister-Gess finished up her third season as the head coach of the Emory & Henry women’s soccer team. The team just missed out on the conference tournament with a 4-13 (3-9 ODAC) record. The team competed very well versus Virginia Wesleyan. Although E&H did not get the victory, they held Virginia Wesleyan to its closest game since 1999. The soccer team battled Roanoke to the very end. Although the Wasps lost, it was a hard fought game that really added character to the team. E&H was also one of three teams to score a goal against a powerful Washington & Lee program. Those three games were moral victories for the Emory & Henry Wasps. Coach Schirmeister-Gess will continue to making them tangible victories in the future. Despite not finishing where the team would have liked, the team did improve in some key areas from last season.
The team nearly doubled their goal output from last season, jumping from 13 to 25. That production was thanks in part to 8-0 and 6-1 victories in back-to-back games vs. Hollins and Randolph, respectively. The offensive outburst started with junior, Emily Belanger, who netted 5 goals on the season, which led the team. On her team high 5 goals, Belanger said, “I couldn't have been a leading scorer without my teammates and I really hope I can help bring more success for the team next year.” Senior Bethany Myer finished second in goals with 4. While freshmen, Daishi Dudley and April Yopp, closed with 3 each.
Yopp’s 3 goals all came in one match vs. Hollins, which was one of the highlights of the season for E&H. Yopp said, “Even though I love the center back position, it felt great to finally get off of the defensive line and get into the offensive side of things. The feeling of scoring my first collegiate goal in this game was incredible, and the two goals that followed that just added to the excitement!” The Wasps also saw an increase in assists this season. Behind Myer’s team leading 5 assists, the team finished with a mark of 16 after having only 9 in the previous year.
The women’s soccer program will see five seniors leave the program after the 2014 season. Erica Merriman totaled 2 goals and 2 assists while starting 13 games on the season. Merriman completed her career with 20 goals and 6 assists. Upon finishing her senior year, Merriman said, “I still can't believe four years went by that quickly, but I feel truly blessed that these 22 girls are the ones I finished with. I probably won't remember any stats or details of any game, but I will always remember this family and the way we stuck together no matter what.” Brittney Horn missed most of her senior year due to injury. However, she continued to be a leader for the team. Horn was a 2 year captain for the Wasps while concluding her career with 54 starts. Bethany Myer totaled 17 goals in her career as a Wasp. The senior from Hickory, North Carolina tallied 5 assists which marked her highest in a single season. In her final season as a Wasp, Myer was named to the All-ODAC third team. “I am so very thankful to have been selected to be on the all-conference ODAC third team. […] nothing comes without pain and dedication. It is by this motto and mindset I walked onto the field to play. So being selected for this team has been great way to personally end my senior season.” Maddy Guzman, the senior from Cleveland, Ohio, completed her 4 year campaign as a Wasp with 47 starts in the 63 games she played as a midfielder. Becca Hansen ended her career with a shutout win over Hollins this season. Hansen became one of the true leaders for the Wasps.
About the future of the Wasps, Myer continued, “As clichéd as it may sound we really have fought through blood sweat and tears to grow into the team that we are now. I have no doubt that in the upcoming seasons, Emory &Henry women's soccer will be the top force to be reckoned with.” The Wasps will look to work their way back in to the conference tournament.
Coach Schirmeister-Gess spoke about the team, “I think our program and our team are stronger than ever before. The technical and tactical ability of our team, as individuals, is strong and ever growing. It is now imperative we start consistently putting it all together. Once we do, we will be a true, constant force to be reckoned with. For me, the season was exemplified by growth of individual players, who strived to get better and learn. The results did not land how we wanted them to, so we now shift our focus to applying our learning, our abilities, and our potential to making the success come through.”
Team Leaders
Goals – Emily Belanger, 5
Assists – Bethany Myer, 5
Points – Bethany Myer, 13
Shots – Erica Merriman, 31
Saves – Kayla Wright, 61
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-photo courtesy of Caleb Johnston, E&H '15