The Panther women’s soccer team ended their 2019 season with a 3-0 loss to the Valparaiso Crusaders in Valparaiso, Ind., on Friday, Nov.1. The Panthers took on the Crusaders for the seventh time in program history with both teams fighting for a place in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament.

“They [Valpo] look an awful lot like us,” head coach Bruce Erickson said. “But I think it’s just going to come down to one team making one more play.”

The Crusaders ended up making that play and scored early on in the 12th minute with a cross from the left side. They scored again in the 25th minute off a corner kick, followed by a third goal in the 57th minute.

Although the Panthers were unable to find the back of the net, they outshot the Crusaders 16 to eight.

Senior Sydney Hayden, the Panthers’ leading returning scorer, led the Panther offense with four shots. Seniors Jordyn Rolli and Jamie Althiser, along with freshman Lizzie Mewes followed close behind, each with three shots.

The Panther women ended their season with a 5-11 overall record and a 1-6 conference record.