Shepherd Scores as HU Battles No. 7 Wildcats

HUNTINGTON, Ind. - The Huntington women's soccer team faced a tall task on Homecoming weekend, squaring off against 7th-ranked Indiana Wesleyan at King Stadium Saturday afternoon. The visiting Wildcats, who entered the contest 8-1-1 overall and unbeaten in Crossroads League play, showed why they're among the nation's elite with a 5-1 win over the Foresters.

Junior Sophie Shepherd provided HU's lone highlight, burying her fifth goal of the season—and 20th of her career in Forester green—with a spectacular strike in the 57th minute. The veteran forward tracked down a booming punt from keeper Macie Sanders, danced past her defender and rifled a left-footed rocket into the upper 90 far post.

Remarkably, her goal marked the first scored by a Crossroads League opponent against IWU this season, as the Wildcats had previously shut out ranked foes Spring Arbor, Grace and Taylor. Shepherd's goal is only one of five goals Wesleyan has given up this year.

Indiana Wesleyan's relentless attack netted four first-half goals before adding one more after the break. Sanders turned in a strong effort in goal despite constant pressure, registering 11 saves against 25 Wildcat shots.

"Yes, we did not play to our standards of who we are the first half. After being honest with ourselves and realizing there is two halves in a game, the story changed in the second half with a 1-1 half result," noted Coach Keaton Albert. "It's been since 2020 that HU has scored on IWU. Again, shoutout to this team.

"It's never easy to keep fighting for a game that seems impossible to win. But they decided to do it anyway again. Life teaches us that sometimes you only have your own God-given ability, your teammate next to you and Jesus who is there writing the story. We are grateful to have each other, and today we are celebrating the small victories."

With the loss, Huntington moves to 5-6 overall and 0-4 in league play. The Foresters will use the coming week to regroup before heading to Saint Francis on Saturday for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff against the Cougars.

The Huntington University Foresters compete in 18 intercollegiate sports for men and women. In the past decade, Huntington has produced 181 NAIA All-America honors and 631 All-America Scholar Athlete honors. Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. U.S. News & World Report ranks Huntington among the best colleges in the Midwest.