Box Score The Lancaster Bible College women's soccer team saw its season come to an end on Saturday night as Johns Hopkins defeated the Chargers, 5-0 in the NCAA Division III First Round. The Blue Jays scored twice in the first 11:31 of the first half and to take an early lead that the Chargers could not overcome. 

Senior goalkeeper Emily Lloyd made eight saves for the Chargers, while fellow senior Whitney Heise recorded seven shots and finishes her career as the all-time leading scorer in LBC women's soccer history with 59. 

LBC, the North Eastern Athletic Conference Champion, finishes the season with a 17-5 record.

Despite the loss, the Chargers can take a lot of pride in how well they played and came together as a team this season, something Chargers' Head Coach Ken Craul told his team after the game.

"It has been good to see this team mature as the season progressed," Craul said. "We started out as a team that did not work as a unit to a team that developed confidence in each other and expected the level of play by each team member to be raised each game."

Craul praised the underclassmen as well, including sophomores Monica Horning and Anne Hayward who played significant roles on the team this season. 

"Hayward, Christy Lorah and Bethany Stein stepped in an contributed right away," Craul said. "Hayward, on several occasions, was given the responsibility to mark an opponents' top scoring threat and delivered with solid play each time. Horning, Evelyn Stauffer and Sarah Heilenman also stepped up for us and had a great year. Whether starter or reserve, each team member had part in our success."

Craul saved his greatest praise for the group of seniors who have transformed the women's soccer program from doormat to conference champion.

"The seniors have left not only a position to be filled, but they have left and expectation for what you will need in order to fill that position's role," Craul said. 

Looking ahead to 2013, Craul said he and assistant coach Doug Huff had a short conversation as to whether or not they would rebuild the team and keep planning for the future or reload the team and go after yet another NCAA Division III Championship appearance. After looking at what next year's roster looks like and the talent that is returning, as well as some of the recruits lined up, it wasn't difficult for Craul to say they will reload and not rebuild. 

Whoever is on the roster next season, one thing that is certain is that this program is no longer stuck in neutral. It is trending upward and you can't simply show up and play. These things are a direct result of the graduating class and the current players on the roster know that it is now their turn to step up and keep building the LBC women's soccer program.