ST. CATHARINE, Ky. – Sophomore Shelbi Halverson tied her career high with seven saves during women's soccer's MSC game with St. Catharine on Saturday. However, Halverson's efforts could only hold off the Patriots (3-2-2, 1-1 MSC) for so long as they scored twice late to down the Bears (2-6, 0-2 MSC), 2-0.
The two sides remained even for nearly 73 minutes as neither could break onto the scoreboard. However, St. Catharine put the first goal away with 17:06 to play and would add an insurance goal with just under five minutes remaining. After scoring five goals in their last home game against Bluffton, the Bears' offense has been denied at every turn during each of the past three road games.
St. Catharine put some pressure on the Bears' defense in the opening eight minutes but all three of the Patriots' shots would travel wide during that time. Bethany Ward put Shawnee State's first shot of the game on target, but her only attempt of the day was saved. In the Bears' goal, Halverson would face her first test in the 13th minute and was up to the challenge. Aubrey Johnson put SSU's second shot on frame in the 26th minute, which was also saved.
After a combined eight shots between the two teams in the opening 25-plus minutes, things began to settle in for the remainder of the opening half. Halverson would be called on to make one more save before the half closed, while Shawnee State had their only chance at a corner in the first half after a shot by Brittney Brooks was blocked.
Right from the opening whistle of the second half, SSU looked poised to possibly get on top early as it earned a corner attempt and later had a shot by Johnson saved and another travel wide. Halverson would make two more saves early in the second half, but St. Catharine would break through the Bears' defense in the 73rd minute. After two corner tries within 30 seconds time, the Patriots' Paige Long would finally put her team on the scoreboard with just 17:06 to play.
With just over eight minutes left, Brooks sent her shot, which was Shawnee State's last of the game, over the crossbar and St. Catharine would again take possession. The Patriots would stretch the lead to 2-0 with just under five minutes to go. Halverson looked to keep the game at one-goal deficit as she stopped the first Patriots' attempt. However, a rebound came right back to the Patriots' Krista Russell and she would convert the second chance for the goal and St. Catharine came away with the 2-0 victory.
For the game, the Patriots held a 16-7 advantage in shots and 9-3 edge in shots on goal. Johnson finished with a team-high four shots in the game with two on goal. Brooks was the only other player with two shots as Ward took the other shot on goal.
The Bears will now look to get their offensive swagger back next Tuesday, September 25 when they travel to Ohio Christian for a 3 p.m. match. That will conclude the team's four-game road trip – the longest of the season. Women's soccer will get back on the Shawnee Turf next Sunday against MSC foe Lindsey Wilson.
