Elise Covert, Sports Co-Editor

Women’s soccer season came to an end in the first round of the NCAA Division 1 Tournament for the Bison on Nov. 11. The Orange and Blue fell to the No. 7 West Virginia Mountaineers in Morgantown, W.Va. by a final score of 3-0, bringing another memorable season to a close. It was the second consecutive year that the team made an appearance in the national tournament, falling to Penn State in the first round in 2016.

West Virginia notched their first goal in the 16th minute, but the Bison defended well for the rest of the first half, entering the break with just a one-goal deficit. However, the Mountaineer offense proved too strong in the second half and tallied two more goals in the 47th and 58th minutes. They forced the Orange and Blue to defend 18 corner kicks and didn’t allow the Bison a single shot on goal in the contest.

Theresa Adu-Attobrah ’20 made her second collegiate start and recorded eight saves in the effort.

“It is an incredible honor to be one of 64 teams competing for a national title. I love being the underdog, and because of the success of our program, we are hardly ever in that position in the Patriot League. So, to enter the NCAA as the underdog and to shock top teams with our talent and our persistence—that’s a really special experience,” captain Karli Cirovski ’18 said.

It was a season to remember for the program, going 7-2 in the Patriot League and finishing 12-9 overall. The season also saw the Class of 2018 break a program record for most wins over their four years with 49 career victories, including their second straight Patriot League postseason title against Navy.

“This senior class has really helped to transform our program—working towards a championship culture, winning two Patriot League Championships and advancing to the NCAA, and getting better each time in the NCAA,” head coach Kelly Cook said.

“I came into a program that was a threat in the Patriot League, but hadn’t won a title since 2005. And now we won back-to-back championships and are one of the dominant teams in the league. To be a part of the building of a championship culture here is something I will never forget,” Cirovski said.