2012 WOMEN'S SOCCER SPRING SEASON RECAP

ELKINS, WV - The Davis & Elkins women's soccer team followed up their 9-8-1 2011 season with a solid spring season. The focus has been on conditioning, preparing the girls for the transition into summer workouts, as well as keeping their touches on the ball fresh. With a depleted roster, due to graduates and injuries, the Lady Senators played four matches overall and competed in one small-sided tournament.

The first match, a friendly game of three 30-minute periods, was against Wheeling Jesuit University. The Lady Senators walked away with a 2-0 loss, having allowed both goals in the first period. For the rest of the game the defense held tight, and the Lady Senators were unable to convert any of their offensive pushes into goals.

The following weekend the Lady Senators traveled to Ohio Valley University, where they dominated the game and won 5-0, despite a good showing from OVU. Junior defender Kayla Petrella, scored two of the five goals. Not to be outdone, freshman 2^nd Team All-conference player, Emma Davis, also put away two. Junior 1^st team All-conference player, Sarah Fyock, scored one.

The big spring match was a Friday night game against rival West Virginia Wesleyan. Last fall the Lady Senators beat Wesleyan 2-0, to advance to the conference tournament championship game. While the spring matches are usually "friendly" ones, the long-standing rival between the teams no doubt gave the D&E women the tenacity to come back in the 85^th minute to tie up the game 1-1.

The Lady Senators traveled up to Morgantown for the fourth contest of the spring, facing off against WVU Club. Even with limited numbers, D&E won 2-0.

The final competition was a 6v6 tournament at Charleston. Having prepared all week for the small sided games, the D&E women finished third overall. After a rough start in the first two games, the Lady Senators won four consecutive matches. They beat teams from Concord, Charleston, and West Liberty. They averaged more shots on goal than any of the teams they played, building up their confidence in their scoring capabilities.

While a spring season doesn't determine the coming fall, the Senators are looking forward to each of these 12 returners and what they'll bring to the field. The D&E women will open their 2012 campaign at Cedarville University on August 31.