Just as the Gators neared rock bottom, after a mid season scoring drought, the team thrust itself up by keeping opponents silent offensively while creating and capitalizing on its scoring opportunities.

Coach Jack Hyde summarized what the Gators accomplished after starting the season 3-6-1, following a 1-0 loss to BYU-Hawaii on Sept. 26.

“I feel the team played very well this year,” he said.

After that low point, where SF State was shut out in six of its last eight games, the Gators (9-9-2, 6-6-2) turned their season around and went 6-3-1, including Sunday’s 1-0 win over Cal State East Bay, to close out the season.

The Gators focused on defense and took on the mantra “No Goal Patrol”, a motto to keep every opponent scoreless. The nickname proved fitting, considering the Gators shut out their opponents in five of their last six games.

“For the last road trip, we had some key players stepping up,” Hyde said. “They started believing in themselves.”

Hyde recognized freshman goalkeeper Emily Hart, midfielders Carly Bliss and Robin Bowman, and freshman Alex Emanuel for their improved performances.

“Robin [Bowman] and Carly [Bliss] tightened up the midfield and it helped the defense tremendously,” said Hyde, who ended his 22nd year as head of the women’s program.

The improved players joined the team’s core group—junior Lauren Candia, senior Rachel Brusnahan, freshman Sarah Whelan and junior Morgan Davidson, to help the Gators make a run to end the season on a high note.

The most important game of the season was played at Sonoma State on October 21. SF State had just lost a game at home against CSU San Bernardino and tied another at Humboldt State, which marked the worst mini-streak at the end of the season.

“Everything just clicked against Sonoma [on Oct. 21],” Hyde said. “They played hard through the entire game.”

The Gators defeated Sonoma State 3-0, and then won their next match against CSU Monterey Bay 2-0. They lost 2-1 to Cal State LA to end their road trip, but closed out the season with a 1-0 win against Cal State East Bay in a non-conference home game.

“At Sonoma, it was good to see how well we played after working so hard this season to get where we ended up,” Hyde said.

Hyde hopes to carry the momentum of this season into next season, where he will see many of his players return. Four seniors are on the team this season, including starters Brusnahan and Kate Donaldson.

“We have a good core of freshmen, sophomores and juniors,” Hyde said.
“We hope to add to them next year.”