CLEVELAND, GA. | Lady Bears' Impressive Season Ends in 3-0 Loss to TWU
The Lady Bears faced off against the Lady Bulldogs of Tennessee Wesleyan University in Athens, TN Friday afternoon. This would be the Lady Bears' second trip to the AAC final in three years. TWU, on the other hand, were looking to make it two consecutive years as AAC Tournament Champions. Unfortunately for TMU, the Lady Bulldogs would go on to win 3-0 by scoring an early goal in the first half and adding on to their lead with two late goals in the second half.
"Today wasn't our day unfortunately. It's a tough end to what has been a great season," said Coach
David McDowell. "Coaching this group of girls that brought intensity and commitment to every practice and game has been a real joy. We have really enjoyed this season and look forward to continue to grow this program. I'm thankful for my amazing assistant coaches,
Jonathan Britt and
Meagan Taylor, and for this great team."
Though the match did not end the way TMU hoped, the Lady Bears did have a great 2017 season with many shining moments. Multiple players received recognition for their play on the pitch and for their success in the classroom as well, having five players named to the All-Conference teams and six receiving All-Academic honors. The Lady Bears racked up twelve wins in the season, matching the highest win total in program history.
The success the Lady Bears saw in the 2017 campaign was due in large part to their three seniors:
Katey Griggs,
Elise Lombard, and
Christina Charles. Throughout the four years these ladies were in the program, they helped the Lady Bears' soccer program reach new heights. TMU went to two conference championships, three conference final-fours, and tallied forty-one victories, all of which are the most over any four year stretch in program history. Though the program will greatly miss these three ladies, the future still looks very bright for TMU Women's Soccer.
