James Profetto/Staff Writer
A “must-win” vibe invaded the women’s soccer evening game between the Panthers and Marshall University on Thursday, Oct. 30 in Miami. The crowd was full of energy, emotion and pro-Panthers banter was among the fans.
“We gotta win,” said Orlando Rios, father of redshirt junior defender Nikki Rios.
“What do you mean? We will win,” said Albert Leiva, father of redshirt senior forward Chelsea Leiva.
Marshall University, now 7-6-5, 4-3-3, had an opportunity to play with a Conference-USA Tournament berth on the line. With a win or a tie, the Thundering Herd are in.
The Panthers needed three points or a tie and a Louisiana Tech University loss. But they also had one unique bit of motivation to carry throughout the match: Senior Night for the senior players of the Panthers.
The narrative was set, the National Anthem rang loud and the first whistle echoed off the bleachers.
Marshall pressured the Panthers early and found a quick shot on goal due to an errant pass to try and switch the field. Freshman goalkeeper Nevena Stojakovic bottled up the early test (four saves).
“Well, I thought it was a closely contested game,” said Head Coach Thomas Chestnutt. “Both teams had their chances.”
For the first 45 minutes, the Herd found their way with the Panthers, but the “iron-core” defense gave up zero goals through the first half. The midfield of the Panthers, sans senior Johanna Volz, took some time to settle in and feel for the Marshall attack, which provided for the most peculiar save of the night.
At the 31st minute, Marshall took a gander at goal and found the lower left crossbar. The ball bounced straight up and into Stojakovic’s hands, luckily not taking a Marshall bounce towards the back of the net.
“I think both teams didn’t really play the way we wanted to,” said Leiva. “But we both fought really, really hard. Our legs are shot.”
There were plenty of opportunities for both teams on breaks down the field, with players like Marshall’s Sydney Arnold (one shot, one on-goal, one goal) dashing across and utilizing whatever space she found. At the 70th minute, Thundering Herd teammate Berrie Walker found Arnold, who buried a long shot past Stojakovic and the Panthers defense.
A response was imminent by this Panthers team, though, as they would not go down on a special night.
“The response was fantastic,” said Chestnutt. “We showed our commitment. They could have easily put their heads down for minutes.”
Volz found an equalizer at the 71st minute, due in part to junior midfielder Madlen Weinhardt and redshirt junior midfielder Scarlet Montoya. With the assist, Weinhardt now has 17 in her career, which sits her at number four all-time in Panthers history, according to FIU Athletics.
“It’s all about heart and fight,” said senior forward Ashleigh Shim. “I think that’s the one thing that helps our team ‘go’—our drive and our motivation.”
Shim played a whopping 104 minutes and crept into the back line of the Thundering Herd all night.
The Panthers kept their fire going, with Montoya (five shots, two on-goal) rocketing a shot that skimmed just above the top crossbar.
For Chestnutt and his team, a game-winner could not be found in regulation. Overtime loomed, which is very familiar territory for the Panthers as of late. Throughout the first of the two 10-minute halves, Marshall was able to control the tempo and prevent the Panthers from getting a much-needed three points.
“Obviously, you don’t want the tie,” said Chestnutt. “You want the win.”
Frustration, sadness and hope for a Louisiana Tech loss/tie flushed through each Panthers’ face. Yet, all of that negative emotion ran dry for a period of time during the Senior Night postgame ceremonies.
On her fellow senior teammates, redshirt junior Sara Stewart said this: “We’re definitely really special. We’re all so close and it feels like yesterday that we were coming in for [training] camp. We have a lot of great memories.”
As the PA announcer called each senior to the field to receive their framed jersey with their name engraved on a small plaque, tears flowed. Nobody was shy in showing emotion. As each senior walked, the rest of the team cried for their soon-to-depart teammates.
“Marlena Stablein…Shelby Bowden…Caroline Hernandez…Sara Stewart…Ashleigh Shim…Johanna Volz…Chelsea Leiva…”
As they lined up side-by-side, each senior realized their cleats were touching the FIU Soccer Stadium’s field for the final time.
When asked what she will take away from her time with the Panthers, Leiva said this while shedding tears: “Oh my gosh…So much, it’s crazy. A lot of life lessons that we learned.”
Senior defender Caroline Hernandez reminisced on what she will miss most once closing her locker for the last time as a Panther: “Definitely the dancing in the locker room. I’m gonna miss that so much, [especially] with everyone putting balloons in their pants.”
A funny, zany, unique group of girls that stuck together throughout their four years together.
“I am speechless,” said Stewart on her experience. “It’s unreal.”
At the end of an emotional night, the Panthers (8-8-2, 3-4-2) learned of the news that LA Tech had won in overtime and their playoff hopes were gone along with it.
“These are my girls, my sisters,” said Shim. “My ‘ride or dies.’”
About Post Author
