“I didn’t think that I would make it before the season ended, so it was a surprise to say the least,” remarked Epperson. “It’s a bittersweet record, but it’s a personal accomplishment so it’s something that I’ll always have with me. It’s unfortunate that we couldn’t back it up with a couple of winning seasons, but I can’t be anything but ecstatic about it and I’m happy with how I’ve performed over the past four years.”
The record breaking save occurred in the 85th minute of play when Epperson blocked a shot in the box by Salem’s Alana Carroll.
“She’s a great goalie,” stated Amber Campbell, the only other senior on Wesleyan’s roster. “I’ve never seen a better player or someone who puts so much into it and she really deserves this recognition. From the moment we came in as freshman, she was a go getter. She wanted the team to do as well as it could and she knew what she had to do to contribute. She’s made to lead a team.”
President Ruth Knox presented the senior with a ball signed by the team at the first dead ball following the save. It gave her teammates and the campus community an opportunity to celebrate alongside her.
“We’re excited for her,” stated Wesleyan head coach Michael Spivey. “Her work ethic represents everything you want to see in a student-athlete as far as her balance between her studies and soccer. To me, the leadership she shows off the field is just as important as how she leads on the field. She’s been voted as a captain for two years now, and I think people look to her for her strength in leadership. She has a lot of strong character traits, including a personality that’s open and hard working, and she has a lot of goals and she strives to work hard to accomplish them, which she did tonight.”
The leader now finds herself atop the NCAA record books, separating herself from great players all the way from Division I powerhouse North Carolina to Wesleyan’s rivals in the Great South Athletic Conference.
“It’s kind of surreal - I never even thought it was possible or that there was record for it or that it was that important, so it’s kind of cool that it’s mine now.”
Mark another goal off the list for this driven student-athlete after tonight.
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