WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson women's soccer team recorded its fifth consecutive shutout by downing Bethany College by a 1-0 score this afternoon in a Presidents' Athletic Conference match at Alexandre Stadium.
The shutout Saturday is the 10th of the season recorded by the Presidents. The win improves W&J to 10-2-4 overall and 5-1-3 in PAC play. The victory locked up a spot in the upcoming PAC Tournament, which begins with the quarterfinal round on Saturday, Oct. 28. Currently with 18 points, the Presidents have secured at least a top four seed in the tournament.
W&J took charge in the first half when junior Skylar Bibbee (Fairfax, Va. / Chantilly) scored a goal exactly 27 minutes into the game. Junior Courtney Actis (Bechtelsville, Pa./Boyertown Area) set up the score by carrying the ball up field on a 2-on-1 before passing over to Bibbee who then beat the Bison goalkeeper. The goal is the team-leading seventh score of the season. Four of Bibbee's goals this season have been game winners.
The Presidents carried the 1-0 lead into halftime. W&J made that lead hold up as they held Bethany scoreless over the final 45 minutes to secure the shutout.
Abby Hipkins (Canonsburg, Pa. / Canon-McMillan) played all 90 minutes in goal for the Red & Black. Hipkins would collect three saves on the afternoon to secure her ninth shutout of the season. That total leads all PAC goalkeepers in 2023. Hipkins has surrendered just seven goals in 13 total matches this fall.
The back line of Katie Brown (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley), Makenna Mann (Herndon, Va./South Lakes), Tori DeVere (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) and Actis continued to hold strong as they helped Hipkins post the shutout.
Audrey Chapman (Elkins Park, Pa./Phil-Mont Christian Academy) registered five shots to pace the Presidents with four of them on goal.
The Red and Black out-shot the Bison by a 16-8 (11-3 on goal) margin. W&J also had a 3-1 edge in corner kicks throughout the 90 minutes of play.
Before the game, W&J recognized Hipkins, Brown, Mann, Kayla Daugherty (Prospect, Pa./Slippery Rock Area) and Aimee Toscano (Gilbertsville, Pa. Boyertown Area) for their contributions to the team over the past four years as part of Senior Day.
W&J concludes the regular season at Grove City on Wednesday, Oct. 25. Start time is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Don Lyle Field.
