Late Game-Winning Goal Lifts Ferris State Soccer To Senior Day Triumph

Big Rapids, Mich. - A game-winning goal with three minutes to play lifted the Ferris State University women's soccer team to a thrilling 2-1 victory over Ohio Dominican in a key Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) and regional contest on Sunday (Oct. 25) as FSU captured its regular-season home finale.

The Bulldogs honored their eight senior players prior to the final regular-season home tilt on Senior Day and the late goal from freshman Carley Dubbert in the 87th minute gave them a victory in their last match at the FSU Soccer Field. The win had potential postseason implications with ODU ranked ninth in the latest regional poll.

Dubbert slipped a shot past ODU goalkeeper Marissa Wierzbicki in front of the net with exactly three minutes left on the clock for her fourth goal of the year and first game-winner. It was assisted by senior forward Nichole Boehnke, who put a pass thru the Panther defense near the net.

After the Senior Day celebration to start the afternoon, the Bulldogs jumped in front first in the opening frame when senior forward Casey Shauman produced her third goal of the year on an end line shot that just escaped Wierzbicki's grasp. Junior Meredith Smith was credited with the assist on an inside to outside pass.

The 1-0 Bulldog lead stood until the 68th minute of the second half when the Panthers knotted the game up on Lauren Pratt's fifth goal this season. Her rebound shot came after a deflection in the box with Kelly Johnson earning the ODU assist.

From there, though, the Panthers were not able to find the scoreboard again despite several potential scoring chances as Bulldog senior goalkeeper Maddie Haustein came up with 12 saves in 90 minutes of work overall. 

Ferris State was outshot 23-18 for the afternoon, including 13 to 10 on goal, but recorded the win with several timely plays. The Panthers also produced eight corner kick opportunities to four for FSU with the Bulldogs called for 13 fouls to nine for ODU.

Wierzbicki took the loss in goal for Ohio Dominican with eight saves in 90 minutes of action.

In her final regular-season home contest, Shauman generated six shots for the Bulldogs offensively, including three on net. Rachel Fouts had four shots with both senior Hunter Dolan and Smith earning a pair of shots apiece. Pratt had five tries for Ohio Dominican and four came on goal.

Ferris State's eight seniors honored included Boehnke, Shauman, Haustein and Dolan along with Lindsey Scott, Abby Meirndorf, Ashley Bradstreet and Amanda Mathy. All played in Sunday's home finale.

Together, this year's senior class has helped the Bulldogs qualify for four consecutive GLIAC Tournaments and led FSU to a school-record 13 victories to date this season. They also helped produce a school all-time best 12-match unbeaten streak this campaign. 

Ferris State, which has clinched a first-round home contest for the GLIAC Tournament on Nov. 3, has one more regular-season contest remaining on the schedule. The Bulldogs will visit archrival and defending national champion Grand Valley State on Friday, Oct. 30, for a 7 p.m. (ET) league tilt in Allendale. 

The match will pit the top two teams in the GLIAC as GVSU owns a 15-1 overall record and an 11-0 league mark while FSU is presently 13-3-1 overall and 9-1-1 in conference play following Sunday's victory. 

Ferris State also improved to 8-1 overall at home this season with the victory.