EMORY, Va. - The Emory & Henry College Women's Soccer Team finished one win away from reaching the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Tournament this year. However, the Wasps earned some key victories in the first half of the season. E&H picked up its first win against Ferrum College in a 2-1 decision. A couple matches later, the Wasps earned their first shutout of the season, 2-0, over Sweet Briar College. Emory & Henry picked up two more shut outs during the season, defeating Eastern Mennonite University, 1-0, and Hollins University, 5-0. In the Wasps' four victories, they outscored their opponents, 10-1.
The team sees three seniors leave the program this season. Samantha Sampson (Salem, Va.), who started 53 of the 70 matches in which she played, scored five goals on her career and assisted on three more. Allie Hooper (Cosby, Tenn.) played in 37 contests during her career. She started five matches in 2016 and scored two goals. While Emily Welch (Pamplin, Va.) only played two seasons for the Wasps after transferring from Sweet Briar, she started 16 of 26 contests over the 2015 and 2016 campaign and put up 31 total shots. The leadership from these three seniors will certainly be missed in the future.
Along with Welch, juniors Madison Vaughn (Gate City, Va.) and Clarissa Martin (Raleigh, N.C.) were the captains for the 2016 squad. Although the team may not have won as many matches as it hoped, there were several quality individual accomplishments. Sophomore Gillian Hogg (Richmond, Va.) once again led the team in goals with four on the season. Her 34 shots and 19 shots on goal also led the team. Freshman Lexi DeMers (Palmyra, Va.) dished out a team-best three assists while freshmen Ashley Love (Zirconia, N.C.) and Graysen Barrs (Abingdon, Va.) were able to net two and one goals, respectively.
On the defensive side, Vaughn and junior April Yopp (Franklin County, Va.) were the only two players Tp start every match for the Wasps, playing a big role in the team's three clean sheets. Goalkeepers junior Kayla Wright (Franklin County, Va.) and sophomore Kieran Liseski (Mooresville, N.C.) split time between the pipes, each starting nine matches. Both players earned a pair of victories, however, Wright edged out Liseski in saves, 69-60. The Wasps defense will look to continue to improve during the 2017 campaign.
Emory & Henry will also be under the direction of a new head coach beginning next year. Linda Schirmeister-Gess resigned following the season to assume the role of Director of Leadership with Strive (formerly known at the SportsChallenge Leadership Academy).
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Team Leaders
Goals – 4 – Gillian Hogg
Assists – 3 – Lexi DeMers
Points – 8 – Gillian Hogg
Shots – 34 – Gillian Hogg
Saves – 69 – Kayla Wright