WASHINGTON, D.C.— It was a night to remember for the Gallaudet University women's soccer team, as the Bison shut out Salem International University (W.Va.) 8-0 on Senior Day.  GU's lone senior representative, Virginia Keeler (Ann Arbor, Mich.), made the most of her night as she totaled a hat trick and two assists. After the Homecoming Weekend victory, Keeler was honored with flowers, balloons and other mementos by head coach Sarah Gumina and her teammates.

The women's last game of the season set the record books on fire. The eight goals tied a season high (vs. Wilson College on Oct. 6), which also marked the biggest goal differential in a Bison win this season and one of the top totals in program history.  The Bison also surpassed their previous mark for goals in a season (42, 2002) with 48. GU finished the season 7-11 (4-7 North Eastern Athletic Conference), tied for the most amount of wins in a season in program history. The previous mark was set by the spectacular 2002 team (7-10-1), also directed by Gumina in her first season as head coach.

Keeler capped off a terrific four-year career with the Buff and Blue, in which she scored 25 goals and five assists in 61 starts (64 games played). Her best season by far was this season, as she netted 16 goals and four assists for a total of 36 points. Her previous record for goals scored was four, which occurred in 2007. 

"Virginia has had a great four years at Gallaudet. I have had the privilege of having her for the last three. She is a great player and will be missed.  She has set the standards high in regards to what it takes to be a talented and committed player for the women's soccer program," said Gumina.

Freshman Lauren Hostovsky (Medfield, Mass.) led off the Bison scoring seven minutes into the game with an unassisted score off a breakaway.  She recorded an assist off of Keeler's first goal of the game in the 45th minute. Keeler scored the last two goals of the game for the Bison; her last was assisted by sophomore Johanna Arrigo (Ewing, N.J.), who had a goal of her own in the 70th minute. Also adding to the record-breaking night were sophomores Maddie Morgan (Hockessin, Del.), Tiffany Narciso (North Wildwood, N.J.) and freshman Taryn Philippi (St. Cloud, Minn.) who scored goals.

Salem International (0-10) played the game shorthanded the entire game with only 10 players. Scarlett Moenkermoll led the Tigers with two shots on goal but was stuffed by Bison sophomore Maggie Hoyt (Edgecomb, Maine), who filled in beautifully in goal for the injured Kara Gulvas (Crown Point, Ind.). Hoyt earned the shutout and her first win as she saved each of the three shots that came her way.

The Bison are slated to have 10 starters return next season, as the team looks to continue its improvement in recent seasons.