Box Score
When the 2012 season began for the Bruin women soccer team, few expected the team to win let alone have the season they have had. The Bruins came together as a unit, even though many players had not played together before. Women from different parts of the country, different majors, different personalities and hobbies but all of those were cast aside as these ladies became a team united around a common goal. The Bruins finished their regular season at 7-9, having won five of their last seven games. The team was looking to ride their momentum into the playoffs against Emmanuel College on Friday night. The Emmanuel College Lions posted a 8-10 record and had shutout their previous two opponents 6-0 and 5-0 respectively. The Bruins knew they were going to be in for a tough challenge, but the women responded the same way they have this entire inaugural season: by facing the adversity and pushing through it.
From the opening kickoff, the Bruins showed that they were not intimidated by the Lions and were able to control possession. Sarah Porch and company took care of possessing the ball on the offensive side while Caitlyn Lehman and the Bruins defense limited the Lions scoring opportunities. Tori Anderson continued her impressive play by denying shot after shot put forth by the Lions attack. Throughout the first half, the game was very evenly matched as the two teams battled back and forth with each desperately trying to put their team ahead with a goal. As the first half was drawing to a close, the Lions took advantage and scored to go ahead 1-0 at the half.
"We came into this game as big underdogs," Coach Carmichael said. "The girls knew this was going to be a tough game and they played great and gave a great effort on both sides of the ball.”
As the second half began, the Bruins were looking to get the game back even and the offensive attack ensued. The team changed their attack patterns and began to generate good rushes on the net. Each shot was turned away by Lions' goalie Cyara Castillo as the score remained 1-0. At the midpoint of the 2nd half, the Lions scored again to stretch their lead to 2-0. It looked as if the fairytale season would end in a shutout until Sarah Porch scored off of a header to put the Bruins on the board 2-1. From there, the Bruins did everything they could to tie the game as the offensive attack pounded shot after shot at the goal. In the waning minutes of the game, the Bruins had several shots sail just wide. As the final buzzer sounded, the Lions celebrated a 2-1 win, ending the Bruins inaugural season.
"I can’t tell you how proud I am of this team," Coach Carmichael said. "These girls gave 110% every time they set foot on the field and win or lose they honored God through the way they play each game and in the way they encouraged one another. This hands down was the best game of our season."
The Bruins finish the year at 7-10 and have far exceeded most fans expectations. Most of these ladies had never played at the intercollegiate level, and now here they were in the NCCAA DI playoffs. As the Bruins walked off the field for the last time this season, they can walk off with the confidence of knowing they honored God and did their best.
“These girls have given us such a strong foundation,” Coach Carmichael said. “They have helped in building a soccer culture at Bob Jones that is second to none. They are going to keep working hard and I am really excited about building off of this season going into the spring and into next year.”
They came from all facets and walks of life, but as they leave the field tonight, they leave as a team fully committed to honoring Christ both on and off the field.
