The Lancaster Bible College Women's Soccer team hosted the Penn St. Berks Lions for an important United East Conference matchup on a rainy Saturday afternoon at the Donald H. Funk Field. Despite a strong showing defensively, the Lions were able to find a few breaks in the defense to win 3-0. The Chargers were also able to celebrate the program's five seniors and their families: Naomi Ewing, Elaina Dinse, Kendal Ream, Rachel Dickinson, and Katrina Vibbard. Following today's loss, the Chargers sit at 9-4-1 overall and drop to 3-2 in conference.
 
How It Happened: As the ball skipped back and forth due to the wet surface, the Chargers were the first to apply offensive pressure as sophomore Leah Perreault placed two shots on goal in the first few minutes of the game. The Lions responded with a corner kick and a few shots of their own, a pattern that was seen for most of the first half. It was at the 20-minute mark that the Lions' shot skipped off the bottom of the crossbar and over the line to give the Lions the first goal of the game.
 
The Chargers continued to push the tempo offensively, securing several corner kicks and a few solid looks, but it wasn't quite enough as both teams headed to halftime with the Lions holding onto a 1-0 lead. Just as it felt like the Chargers were going to be the next team to find the scoreboard, the Lions scored their second of the day just over a minute into the second half. With now a two-shot lead, the steam along with the clock began to tick away with the Chargers reaching at any potential scoring opportunity. However, it was the Lions again who would add to an already 2-0 lead at the 87-minute mark to capitalize on a conference win in which both teams look like they'll make a post-season push for the championship.
 
From the Coach: "First off, it was a joy to celebrate Kendal, Naomi, Kat, Elaina, and Rachel today. They mean the world to our team and we're proud of all their accomplishments. Today's result was not what we wanted, but I thought we competed and defended well against a great Berks team. We didn't capitalize on the other end, and credit to them for scoring some nice goals." – Head Coach Jake Warren
 
By the Numbers: The Chargers were outshot 17-12 but won the corner kick battle 4-1… the Chargers had eight saves to the Lions' seven… Pon scored twice for the Lions while Lepera added another.
 
Information to Know: Despite the conference loss this afternoon, the Chargers have secured their spot in the 2023 United East Conference playoffs. While it was a big day for the program and for the five seniors, something that deserves a special shoutout is senior Rachel Dickinson, who suffered a season-ending injury in just the third game of the season. Despite the loss of her senior season, Dickinson decided to not only suit up today but also get a minute of playing time in honor of the work she has put in over the course of the four years. While it's an unfortunate circumstance, it was an emotional moment for Dickinson and her team and a moment to celebrate. 
 
Up Next: The Chargers prepare for another important conference contest, this time traveling to rival Penn St. Harrisburg on Wednesday, October 18 at 7:30 p.m.