PORTSMOUTH – For the fourth time this season, women's soccer found itself down a goal but rallied for the victory. This time, the Bears (7-8, 3-4 MSC) conceded a goal in the 26th minute, but scored with just under a minute to go in the opening half to tie the game. Three more goals in the second half then paved the way for the 4-1 win over the University of the Cumberlands (3-10, 0-7 MSC). All four of the Bears' goals came off the bench from three different freshmen.
The win also clinches a MSC Tournament berth for the Bears as Cumberlands can now only win two MSC contests and SSU holds the tiebreak with the earlier win over Pikeville.
After neither side was able to put their stamp on the game in the opening 25 minutes of the match, Shawnee State was called for a hand ball in the box and the Patriots were awarded a penalty kick. Toni Dempsey took advantage of the scenario and put some heat on the Bears as they were once again faced with the prospect of having to battle out of an early deficit.
The Bears would get shots off, finishing with six in the opening half. However, it was not until there was right around a minute remaining that the Bears would find the equalizer. After working the ball into the Patriots' defensive third, the visitors looked to be gaining possession. Then Kayla Dye retook possession to keep the offensive attack alive and found Schuyler Jones in the box for the finish. The goal was a combination of two fresh legs coming off the bench as Dye recorded her first career assist after coming in during the 28th minute, while Jones scored in her second straight game coming off the bench in the first half. She was subbed in during the 34th minute of play.
Just like last game, it would not take long into the second half for the Bears to take the lead as Hannah Figlestahler gained possession just outside of the 18 on a pass from Staci Johnson and ripped her shot past the keeper in the 52nd minute of play. The goal was the third of her freshman campaign. In the 75th minute, Jessica Fair would tally her sixth goal of the season after receiving the ball about 25 yards out and creating her own shot just inside the 18. She has now scored in two straight games.
Jones would make it two straight games that she has recorded two goals off the bench when she tallied again in the 86th minute. With her back to the goal, she played the ball right over her own head and past the goalie for her seventh goal of the season, tying her with Brittney Brooks for the team lead. Allison Nagle picked up the assist on the play for her feed in the box, her second assist in four games, and third overall this season.
After being scored on during the penalty kick, Emily Kuehn did not allow another goal. She stopped nine shots overall to pick up her fifth win of the season as she played the full ninety minutes in goal. The win Wednesday capped an impressive home streak. Over their final four home games of 2012, the Bears allowed just two goals, while scoring 15 times.
The Bears finished the game with 18 shots, compared to the Patriots 15. Jones led all players with seven, including three on goal. Brooks and Fair added three shots each, while five other players recorded a single shot.
Women's soccer will now close the regular season with three straight games on the road. The first of those matches will be this Saturday in a key match with Bluefield. The two squads are just one game apart in the MSC standings as Shawnee State is currently in the sixth position. The game with Bluefield will begin at 1 p.m.
