Mobile, Ala. – The Spring Hill College (SHC) women's soccer team opened its NCAA Division II regular season era with a 6-1 loss to Wingate University Thursday afternoon.
Wingate controlled most of the first half action against a young Badger lineup. After ten minutes of solid play by both teams, Wingate struck for consecutive goals in the 12
th and 14
th minutes. The Badgers regained their composure as the defense stiffened and the offense began to create scoring opportunities until late in the half when the visiting Bulldogs sealed the game with three goals over a four minute stretch from the 28
th to the 32
nd minutes.
Spring Hill regrouped at halftime and played inspired soccer in the second half while controlling the play and creating multiple scoring chances. The Badgers scored off a corner kick in the 56
th minute as
Mikaela Gamboa (FR) scored her first collegiate goal when she beat the Wingate goal keeper after receiving a nifty header from
Gabrielle Burmaster (SR). Wingate scored in the 76
th minute for the final 6-1 outcome.
"I'm very pleased with our response at halftime," said Head Coach
Allison Whitworth. "Our players used the second half to make a statement about what kind of team we want to be in response to challenges. We grew throughout the game and I'm looking forward to seeing our next performance and how much we improve."
The Badgers (0-1, 0-0 GSC) will travel to Newberry, SC to take on Newberry College on Friday, September 7
th before returning home to face Georgia Southwestern State University at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 9
th.
-SHC-
