The women’s soccer team ended their regular season on Saturday, Nov. 14, defeating the Oakland City Mighty Oaks 2-0 in Oakland City. This lands the Pioneers in the second place position in the River State Conference (RSC) standings, just behind Indiana University East, whose last four games of the season have been postponed. 

The Pioneers had two weeks to prepare for this game, with their last match up taking place on Saturday, Oct. 31. The two weeks off seemed to have rejuvenated the Pioneers more than anything, seemingly outplaying the Mighty Oaks in every category. Although the game was tied 0-0 still at the end of the first half, Point Park shut down the opposition to zero shots in the first 45 minutes of play, compared to their 12 shots, although only two landed on net.

 “I think it definitely benefited us after having a very strenuous schedule for all of October,” junior defender Emily Gillot said. “Having that break allowed for a lot of players and injuries to get the healing time they needed to push through one more game.” 

The second half was more even in shots but was when Point Park started to pull away. In the 72nd minute, junior forward Taylor Goldstrohm scored the go-ahead goal after dribbling through the opposition and firing a shot through to score. Two minutes later at the 74th minute, freshman forward Chanell Britten would give the Pioneers some insurance with a goal that was assisted by Goldstrohm. Point Park would finish the contest with 17 shots (seven on net) compared to the Mighty Oaks’ three shots (three on net). 

Freshman Goalkeeper Ella Serlin once again led the Pioneers to another shutout, stopping all three shots she faced to finish the regular season with a six and three record, with four of said wins being shutouts. Taylor Goldstrohm led the team this year in goals with 9 and points with 19 (goals count as two points, assists count as one). Freshman defender Kylee Bobak would lead in assists on the team with nine, as well as finished second in points with 11. 

Fellow freshman defender Athena Beck would finish second in goals with four, and landed in third in points with 10. Even with the shortened season due to COVID-19, this was the most wins Point Park has ever had in the RSC, winning all eight games in-conference, outdoing their previous bests of seven wins in the 2018 and 2016 seasons.

Even though the regular season is officially finished for the team,  they have a long winter awaiting them. The NAIA and RSC have determined that the postseason will be played in the Spring 2021 semester this year in hopes of COVID-19 cases lowering. 

“I think it will affect the momentum of the teams that were hot in the fall, so that means really anybody in our conference can win,” Goldstrohm said. “The seedings won’t matter because it’s going to act like a new season.” 

The RSC has yet to really release any other information about the playoffs as of publishing, but the Pioneers where they stand now will be ranked as the second seed if and when the postseason starts during the Spring.