PORTSMOUTH – Women's soccer came into its final game of the regular season knowing full well that anything short of win could signal the end of the 2013 season. On a day when the program was celebrating the three members of its senior class, the Bears gave that trio of Allison Nagle, Bethany Ward and Teresa Welch perhaps the best send off that they could ask for as Shawnee State (9-6-2, 2-5-1 MSC) knocked off third-place St. Catharine (12-5, 5-4 MSC) to clinch a spot in the Mid-South Conference Tournament, ensuring the seniors at least one more game it their final season.season.
From the opening whistle, the Bears came out fighting with their collective backs against the walls. SSU took more shots than St. Catharine for the game, holding a 15-9 edge in that category. The Bears also put twice as many shots on goal, 12-6, as the Patriots. They even held a 7-4 advantage in corner kick chances.
Nonetheless with three minutes to go in the regulation, the Bears still had nothing on the scoreboard to show for their efforts. That all changed in the 88th minute when Elizabeth Abbott tallied the second game-winning goal of her career with just 2:50 showing on the clock. Her goal came with heavy traffic in front of the goal that she was able to create enough space and secure the only goal her team would need on the afternoon.
In the opening half, the Bears held a 7-2 advantage in shots on goal but were unable to fully crack the Patriots' defense. The Bears also took the first four shots on the second half to give them an 11-2 advantage in shots just over 61 minutes into the game.
St. Catharine would eventually start to generate some offense of its own down the stretch, forcing the defense to hold its line with the season potentially on the line. From the 79th through 85th minute of play, the Patriots made all of the action take place in front of the Shawnee State goal. However, Emily Kuehn would stop the three shots on goal while another shot traveled wide of net during that stretch.
The Bears would begin to transition the ball back into their offensive third late in the game. In the next offensive sequence, Nagle – who finished with eight shots during her senior day – had her final attempt denied on a defensive save by the Patriots' defense. However, less than 30 seconds later Abbott would finally get SSU on the board with her tally to put her team up 1-0. St. Catharine would have one final shot in the game with under a minute to play but sent that attempt high.
Kuehn finished the game with six saves in what was her sixth shutout of the season.
After the win, the Bears now sit in seventh place overall in the Mid-South Conference. Barring a Bluefield upset against Lindsey Wilson, the Bears will finish in that slot. This would mean that they would travel to Lindsey Wilson for the MSC Quarterfinals. The MSC Playoffs are scheduled to begin during the second weekend of November.
