For any team in any sport, it’s important to get hot at the right time. A winning season can go downhill fast, and a season that looks to be heading downhill can be salvaged with a string of late wins. The women’s soccer team certainly got hot at the right time this season, and it took them all the way to the GLIAC final where they lost 2-0 to Grand Valley State, which finished the season ranked No. 1 in the country.

The Eagles’ magical run began after a 5-0 loss to Grand Valley Sept. 25. That weekend saw Ashland get blanked 8-0 in two games and fall to 2-3-1 in the GLIAC, but they never gave up more than two goals in a game the rest of the way. Other than an Oct. 20 loss to Ohio Dominican at home, the Eagles went unbeaten in their last eight GLIAC games of the regular season.

It was a stretch that saw them climb to second in the GLIAC South Division and claim the No. 3 overall seed in the conference tournament. They hosted their first ever GLIAC tournament game Nov. 1 and won 1-0 against Ferris State to claim a spot in the conference semifinals, which were held Nov. 4-6 at Grand Valley.

Ohio Dominican (10-7-2)

The Eagles and Panthers fought and clawed for 110 minutes during the first GLIAC semifinal match, but the score remained deadlocked at zero, sending the game into a penalty-kick shootout. Ashland prevailed in PKs 4-3 to earn a spot in Sunday’s championship game.

Sophomore goalkeeper Rebecca Plescia made seven saves to earn a clean sheet. Ashland’s defense was stellar the last month of the season, allowing just one goal in their last four games heading into the GLIAC final.

In penalty kicks, sophomore Tani Lopez was the first to go for Ashland and she converted. The Panthers answered, followed by a converted kick by junior Rachel Luebke. The Panthers then made their next two penalties while the Eagles failed to convert on their third attempt. That gave ODU a 3-2 lead.

From there, just like they did all season, the Eagles simply refused to give up. Freshman Lexi Gruich stepped up and made her kick and Plescia made a save to give the team life. Sophomore Katelyn Peterson then made her shot to put the pressure back on the Panthers. Again, Plescia made the save to give Ashland the win.

Grand Valley State (18-0-2)

Ashland faced an uphill battle when they stepped onto the field to take on the undefeated top-ranked Grand Valley State Lakers for the GLIAC crown. That didn’t stop the Eagles from believing they could win, however, and they put up a solid fight for 90 minutes, coming up just short of their first GLIAC tournament crown.

The Lakers scored two goals on set pieces, including a late free kick, to down the Eagles 2-0. Charlie Socia opened the scoring in the 19th minute, heading home a free kick by Erin Mruz.

The Lakers held a distinct advantage in possession, shots (34-2) and shots on goal (15), but the Eagles stayed just one goal down through the first half and much of the second. Senior Savannah Garside was sent off in the last minute of the game when she brought down a Grand Valley player on her way to the goal.

A free kick was awarded, and the Lakers’ Ashley Botts slotted around the wall and into the corner of the goal to secure the win. The goal was Botts’ 17th of the season.

Despite the loss, the Eagles made their name known throughout the conference, moving from dead last a year ago to runner-up. With a lot of key pieces and a lot of players who fought for playing time this year returning, the future is bright for the program.