“It’s sad.” Those were the few words Beth Liesen could muster as she held back tears after a 1-0 loss Friday to Missouri in the first round of the 2003 Women’s College Cup.

Those two words explain the entire mood following the conclusion of Eastern’s season and the career of the greatest goal scorer in Eastern history.

It’s sad for many reasons with Liesen putting on a Panther jersey for the final time being the saddest.

This is a player who has defined women’s soccer at Eastern for the past four years and the 62 career goals she has accumulated only had a small portion to do with that.

She led by example both on the field by not missing a start in her 84 games and playing hard every minute she was in the game.

She also led in the classroom by being one of the only two players named to the First Team Academic All-District team.

Most importantly, she is someone teammates and coaches could easily get along with and always remained humble; never wanting to take the spotlight.

Minutes after losing, she walked into a room full of reporters and fielded questions, something not many players would have done in her same situation.

All of these reasons are why Eastern coach Steve Ballard and anyone else on this campus will be sad to see her go.

“This is one of the best players on the field and one of the best in the country,” Ballard said. “I’m trying to figure out how we can get another four years out of her… We are going to miss her. The whole university is going to miss her.”

This game also was sad because of the many fans who traveled the four hours to get to Columbia, Mo., to see the team’s season end the way it did.

The crowd of 873 people had many people chanting “E-I-U,” and at times were louder than the Missouri fans.

Whoever said Eastern didn’t have any school spirit? And the first thing Ballard did as he walked off the field and into the press conference was thank all the parents and students who made the trip.

It’s sad regulation soccer goals are not an inch higher and an inch wider because a 1-0 loss could have easily been a 2-1 win for the Panthers.

Liesen hit a shot off the cross bar from about 25 yards out and senior Teri LaRoche smacked one off the post on a header.

The Panthers packed it on in the second half and just couldn’t put it away. It was so close, but just not meant to be.

Three years and three NCAA appearances in my time covering Eastern soccer and this will be my last, and well, It’s sad.