BUENA VISTA, VA. — The 2022 Women's Soccer season wrapped up with the Knights finishing with a program-best 12-7-1 overall record, and a 6-2-1 conference record, falling in the USA South Conference Championship Game to Methodist.
 
Southern Virginia showcased multiple milestones throughout the year, including a single-season win record with 12, a program-best conference finish (2^nd), a first conference championship appearance, and most All-Conference members selected.
 
"I am so pleased with the growth of the program and the level to which our players have bought into our culture, and our purpose, and improving each day," stated Head Coach, Rob Dahl. "We are happy to have a record number of players recognized for All-Conference Honors and honored and humbled by the success of the team.  The work these ladies and coaches have put into making this a championship culture is impressive to watch every day as they continue to push themselves and each other to be better."
 
The Knights had a strong start to the season, grabbing a 2-1 victory over Bridgewater College, the first win against the Eagles in program history. Lindsey Clausen scored the team's first goal off a corner kick to put the team up 1-0. In the 70^th minute, Rachel Bodkin scored the game-winning goal, converting on the penalty kick to lock in the 2-1 win.
 
After two consecutive losses, the team bounced back with three straight wins over Berry, Ferrum, and Eastern Mennonite, outscoring the three teams by a combined score of 7-1.
 
The month of October saw the Knights dominate the Battling Bishops, 5-0, with five different players scoring goals. Southern Virginia kept the momentum rolling through the next four games, not losing a match, and scoring a combined 15 goals in five games. Southern Virginia closed out regular season competition with two impressive wins over Mary Baldwin, 2-1, and Meredith College, 5-0, setting the team up with the second seed placement heading into the Conference Tournament and the opportunity to host the tournament in Knight Stadium
 
Welcoming Brevard College in the First Round of the 2022 USA South Conference Tournament, fans were treated to a nail-biting finish to the match.
 
 In the first 45, Southern Virginia got the looked they needed, with Makinna Winterton and Matia Murray recording shots on goal within the first 25 minutes, but Brevard's Nicole Arroyo stood tall with two saves. Madison Sollis fired a shot toward the bottom left corner of the net in the 39^th minute, but again Nicole Arroyo was there to keep the game scoreless.
 
At the end of the first, the Knights' defense successfully did their jobs, not allowing the Tornados to get a shot off. Southern Virginia outshot Brevard 8-0 but headed into the locker room with the 0-0 tie. After the break, the Knights did not struggle to get off shots, but could not get a ball to find the back of the net. Six minutes in, Southern Virginia got off four shots but was unable to put them on cage. The Knights ended the second 45 with nine total shots, with two on target, but Arroyo shined for her team, sending the game into overtime.
 
In both overtimes, Southern Virginia's offense tallied four shots while the defense completed their best efforts of the season, not allowing one shot to be recorded by the opposition, sending the match into penalty kicks.
 
Lindsay Clausen and Gabriella Ray were first up for the team to take their kicks, with both sinking their shots, keeping it tied 2-2. Matia Murray was up next, sneaking it past Arroyo off the initial contact with the ball. After Makinna Winterton nailed her shot, Alyssa Trueman clutched up, diving to her right, making the biggest save of her life, and awaited the embrace of her teammates coming to celebrate the team's victory. Mary Baldwin would be the next target for the Knights.
 
In the 17th minute, Maybel Harris received a pass at the corner of the box and curled a shot with her left foot to the corner of the goal, putting the Knights up 1-0 early on. Southern Virginia kept the pressure up, getting off three more shots in the next seven minutes.
 
Matia Murray doubled up the Fighting Squirrels in the 34th minute, scoring on a fast break after a through ball from Gabriella Ray, shooting it across the goal into the right corner from the left side of the box.
 
At the end of the first half, Southern Virginia outshot Mary Baldwin 9-3 with recently named Goalkeeper of the Year, Alyssa Trueman, recording two saves to blank the Squirrels in the first 45.
 
Both offensive units struggled to get scoring opportunities heading into the second half. In the 73rd minute, Mary Baldwin got on the board with Shea Rider scoring the team's lone goal of the game, making the score 2-1.
 
Southern Virginia had two more chances to put another ball in the net with Lakyn Hansen and Makinna Winterton recording shots on goal, but Anyka Wilkin kept her team in the game with two big saves. The Knights ran out the rest of the 90 minutes, punching their ticket to the conference championship game.
 
The championship match was set as Southern Virginia would travel to Methodist on Saturday, November 5. The Monarchs looked to capture the program's third tournament title, the first since 2017, while the Knights hoped to grab the program's first crown.
 
Ten minutes into the game, Methodist got on the board first, having luck on their side as a deflected cross landed in front of Tatiana Lourenco-Shiber, who quickly dished it over to Laura Harris, sneaking it past Alyssa Trueman.
 
One minute later, a foul by the Monarchs set up a free kick outside the left side of the box, with Gabriella Ray being called to take the shot. After the whistle, Ray curved the ball far right, and snuck it inside the goalpost, evening the game at one.
 
Methodist was presented with two more scoring opportunities, but Trueman stood tall, recording two of her eight saves to keep the score knotted at one. The tied game did not last long, with Tatiana Lourenco-Shiber scoring her first goal of the game off an assist from Corrine Shovlain. The teams went into the halftime break with the Monarchs clinging to a one-goal game, 2-1.
 
Southern Virginia's offense struggled to get together to create scoring opportunities, only being able to get two shots off in the second half. Methodist fired five shots, with four on goal at the Knights' defense, but Alyssa Trueman made four incredible saves to keep the team in contention for victory.
 
The Monarchs solidified their victory in the 85th minute after the Knights fouled within the box, setting up Methodist with a penalty kick. Corrine Shovlain took the shot for the team, putting it in the back of the net, and pushing the team to a 3-1 lead.
 
The final whistle blew, and Methodist captured the program's third championship, and first since 2017, punching their ticket to the NCAA National Tournament, putting an end to an incredible run, and season, by the Knights.
 
"We feel we have improved with our experience this year as we had to adapt to injuries and other setbacks but found strength in our teammates to continue to get results," concluded Coach Dahl. "We are hungry for more as we made it to the Conference Championship match and came up just a game short of our goal. Stay on that grind."  
Individual Accolades
 
The USA South Conference annual women's soccer awards were announced Thursday afternoon with Southern Virginia featuring a program-record five All-Conference selections. The Knights earned two First Team All-Conference, and three Second Team All-Conference honorees, with senior Alyssa Trueman earning Goalkeeper of the Year honors.
 
In her final year with the program, Trueman displayed the best performance of her career, earning her first all-conference selection and being named Goalkeeper of the Year to top it off. In 1,337 minutes played, Trueman compiled an 8-6-1 record during the regular season with a 1.08 goals-against-average and four shutouts. In Conference action-only, Trueman posted a 0.71 goals-against-average which was the lowest of those goalkeepers playing more than 450 minutes. For her efforts, Trueman was named the First Team All-Conference goalkeeper.
 
Joining Trueman on the first team, Makinna Winterton was awarded her second consecutive all-conference selection. Battling injury throughout the year, Winterton finished the regular season atop the league in points per game with 1.67 while tied for ninth in total points with 19, recording seven goals and five assists. A catalyst for the team's success, Winterton secured three game-winning goals in 15 games played. Her performance warranted her a First Team All-Conference selection.
 
Representing the second team, freshmen Morgan Romney and Lindsey Clausen, and senior Annalise Huber were at the forefront for the midfield and defensive positions. The first-year duo of Romney and Clausen combined for 21 of the team's 86 points this season and ranked within the top 15 in the conference for total points.
 
Huber was a presence to every team played against on the year, being physical on the defense, winning the ball in the air, and starting transitions the other way.  The Senior defender has a knack for finding the open man and tallied her first collegiate point with an assist to Winterton in the team's 5-0 senior night victory over Meredith College.  
With proven leadership and direction from the coaching staff and upperclassmen, Southern Virginia is poised for a highly anticipated 2023 campaign. A strong returning core, along with a powerful incoming freshman class, has the bar set high for the Knights in their upcoming season.
 
For more updates and details on the women's soccer team, be sure to follow @knight_wsoc on Instagram and @knightwsoccer on Twitter and visit knightathletics.com.