Women’s soccer ends home schedule with Senior Night victory

SARA BUTLER | ASSOCIATE EDITOR | THE USD VISTA

Last weekend, the final curtain fell on the University of San Diego women’s soccer season. The Torero women played their final game at their home stadium on Friday, Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m. against the Pacific Tigers.

With a record of 4-13-2 coming into the game, some of the team’s players started to feel defeated about the season prior to the match.

Redshirt junior midfielder Julia Sherwood shared her thoughts about the season’s rough patch in anticipation for the final game.

“We are hoping to end out season with a win,” Sherwood said. “It’s been hard to stay positive, but we are using the adversity we’ve faced this season to come together and get the result we want.”

The women did not let any of their past perfoances kill their spirit for the last game. Cheered on by dedicated fans in the chilly 50 degree weather, the team ran out onto the field with force, hoping to turn the season around in the final game.

After a touching tribute to graduating senior and goalkeeper Michelle Craft, which included flowers, photos, posters, and a personalized chant, the Toreros took position on the field.

The game got off to a slow start, with 10 total shots but zero goals scored. While the Tigers were vicious, our women in blue defended their turf.

While the offense could not breach the Tigers’ defensive fortress, goalkeeper Craft protected her home net with dedication in her final game at USD.

Around the 28th minute, the Tigers had a chance to open the scoring, but Craft made a miraculous save on a ball hurtling toward the net, which sent the USD crowd into hysteric celebration.

When Torero fans arrived for the Act II of the final performance, excitement ensued. The second half started off with a goal by Sherwood at 48:59, assisted by juniors Tori Manfredonia and Victoria Walker.

Although the temperous Tigers were hungry for a goal, the Torero defense kept them out of the net by holding the ball near midfield for the majority of the second half. To be sure the Tigers wouldn’t have a chance to fight back, Manfredonia scored another goal for the team at 61:21, with an assist by Sherwood.

With two goals on the board, the Tigers began to feel the bitter taste of defeat. In the end, our Torero women won by a final score of 2-0, prompting passionate cheers from the crowd.

Despite a rough season, the final win for Torero women’s soccer is certainly a cause for celebration.

Craft shares her thoughts on the victory, as well as her feelings on winning her final game as a Torero.

“It was great to end my USD career with two shutouts,” Craft said. “Obviously this season did not go as well as planned but it was still nice to end on a happier note. […] That’s the feeling that I will take with me and remember for the rest of my life.”

With Craft graduating in the spring, the Toreros will need to rebuild their lineup to prepare for next year.

Based on Friday night’s performance, Sherwood, Manfredonia, and Walker may help lead the team to more shutouts in the future.

The final curtain may have dropped, but our women’s soccer program has not fallen. The final game against Pacific ended the year on an inspiring final note and turned around spirits for next year’s team.

After three hours in the chilly San Diego weather, the enthusiastic encore claps from the shivering crowd showed that USD support is alive and well for women’s soccer.

This season may be over, but the final game hints at a revival of team spirit on the field moving forward.