The 2016 edition of Bulldog women's soccer instilled the importance of balancing hard work and fun to create camaraderie and perseverance in an otherwise challenging season. The campaign got off to a solid start with eight different players registering a score in the team's season-opening win over Lawrence University (WI). But this young team had trouble sustaining a winning rhythm, resulting in a 3-12-2 overall record and a 2-10-2 mark in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) competition.
While taking on Lawrence, Redlands saw sophomore midfielder Lauren Bay (Oak Park, CA) uncork the Bulldogs' first goal of the season just five minutes into the game. Bay shined bright all season, netting three goals, including one game-winner, and serving up three assists for a total of 10 points. Due to her stellar play this season, Bay was named to the All-SCIAC First Team.
A plethora of young Bulldogs helped propel the team over Lawrence, netting eight more goals in their 9-0 win. Freshman midfielder Alexa Glick (Boise, ID), sophomore forward Adi Fellows (Albuquerque, NM), and freshman forward Gabby Hart (Sammamish, WA) were among the first-time scorers for Redlands.
Four days later, the team took on the NAIA's seventh-ranked Westmont College Warriors in a non-conference showdown. Although the Bulldogs suffered a loss, junior goalkeeper Hannah Menk (Pleasanton, CA) came up with a career-high 14 saves in that game. Menk went on to top the Redlands single-season record by hauling in 117 saves. She also broke into the career saves top-ten list with 183 saves through three years.
In mid-September, the team opened conference play on the road for two games in a row. In a pair of hard-fought battles, the Bulldogs came up short in one-goal decisions to Cal Lutheran University and Chapman University. Redlands' only score of these two contests came off of Bay's blast into the top-left corner of the net, which was linked to senior defender Faith Campbell's (Bainbridge Island, WA) assist.
Next, Redlands welcomed the University of La Verne to Farquhar Field for its conference, home opener. Redlands fired off a massive 30 shots, with two finding the back of the net. Sophomore forward Hayley Romo (Port Orchard, WA) led the shooting brigade by blasting off seven shots. Following a scoreless 73 minutes of action, freshman forward Hanya Loskutoff (Dublin, CA) scored twice in a four-minute span to propel the Bulldogs to an important 2-1 win.
With the recent victory, Redlands was riding high when it faced the Whittier College Poets on September 24. The Bulldogs jumped on the board in the fourth minute, when Romo converted a penalty kick after a Poet foul in the box on the previous play. Menk stepped up with a big-time save to keep the Poets off the board in the 80th minute, but unfortunately Whittier took advantage of the deflection and slotted the equalizer. Through two overtimes, the teams walked away in a 1-1 stalemate.
The Maroon and Gray continued to battle through some difficult matches, before taking on the La Verne Leopards for the second time on October 15. Knowing the Leopards would be seeking revenge, the Bulldogs understood the challenge that sat in front of them. Nonetheless, junior midfielder Shayla Funk (Fremont, CA) got the Bulldogs on the board early in the contest, as she successfully converted a beautifully-placed corner kick by Bay for the Bulldogs' 1-0 lead at the 5:29-mark. However, the Leopards wasted little time in scoring the equalizer to even the tally at one apiece. The Maroon and Gray's persistence paid off in the 78th minute when freshman midfielder Mel Johnson (Bremerton, WA) notched her first goal as a Bulldog when she converted another Bay corner kick for the team's 2-1 lead. Less than 10 minutes later, freshman midfielder Bryn Anderson (Tahoe City, CA) uncorked an insurance goal off of an assist by senior defender Faith Campbell (Bainbridge Island, WA), providing security in Redlands' positive result.
Following another tough stretch in the schedule that included two one-goal losses, the Bulldogs returned home for Senior Day on Farquhar Field. After celebrating its senior class of forward Kate Frame (Fox Island, WA), midfielders Erin Lau (Reno, NV) and McKenzie Oliger (Seattle, WA), and defenders Sammie Burghardt (Gig Harbor, WA) and Campbell, Redlands squared off against the Tigers of Occidental College in the final match of the season. Sophomore defender Louisa Alstot (Portland, OR) dished out a beautiful corner kick in the 13th minute to Loskutoff, who one-touched it past the Oxy goalkeeper for the Bulldogs' 1-0 lead. Less than 90 seconds later, Oliger created space on the far side of the field to loft a sweet cross into the box, where it found Romo for a one-touch goal to the near post.
But Oxy refused to go away and played tough in the box, earning a penalty kick in the 39th minute, which was converted to cut the deficit to one. The second half saw the Tigers create more chances on their offensive third, eventually leading to the equalizer early in the frame. The Bulldogs battled through double overtime to earn a 2-2 draw on Senior Day.
Despite missing the SCIAC Postseason Tournament for the first time in four years, this young team gained great playing experience in a challenging campaign. Despite the loss of a talented graduating glass, Redlands holds high hopes of further developing and improving upon their skills in the 2017 season. While determined to create an upward trajectory, the Bulldogs look forward to the next phase of Redlands women's soccer under Head Coach Suzette Soboti.