MIDWAY, Ky. -- In a hard-fought contest that saw both teams combine to score three goals over the opening eight minutes of competition, the Shawnee State women's soccer program rallied from a 1-0 deficit after the first two minutes of action to claim a 2-1 advantage in the 14th frame of action -- a mark that the Bears held through the opening half. However, two Midway conversions in the 67th and 76th minutes by Haylie Applegate and Sloane Pollack -- the latter converting a penalty kick -- forced Shawnee State to settle for a 3-2 defeat to the Eagles Thursday evening in a River States Conference contest that was held at Midway Turf in Midway, Ky.

Despite an early goal by Midway's Brayden Gillman in the second minute, Shawnee State worked its way back into the match quickly as the Bears scored twice in a 10-minute stretch.

In the fifth minute, Robyn Drinkwater's corner kick on the far right side of the field found a streaking Haynna Addy, who punched the conversion home on the left side of the box to tie the score at a goal apiece.

Four minutes later, Shawnee State sophomore Jelena Krpan tallied a beautiful goal. Standing near midfield, Krpan launched a ball that landed in the middle of the box, took one high bounce above the head of Midway goalkeeper Lilly Riordan, and rolled into the goal -- giving Krpan her first career goal at Shawnee State and allowing the Bears to take a 2-1 lead in the 14th.

Throughout the opening half, the Bears nearly scored three more times as a shot attempt by Lucie Ashkettle in the 17th minute glanced off of the crossbar while two separate shot attempts by Ashkettle and Robyn Drinkwater were stopped by Riordan.

Still, SSU held a 2-1 lead -- but after seeing the Bears score two times in a 10-minute stretch in the first half, Midway answered back with two goals across a nine-minute span in the second as Haylee Applegate netted an unassisted goal to tie the score. A foul in the box then led to a penalty kick opportunity for the Eagles, which Sloane Pollock converted to put Midway ahead.

Over the final 15 minutes, Shawnee State put together several opportunities on the offensive end -- but an 81st minute attempt by the Bears' Isabelle Riddle hit the crossbar while subsequent attempts by Riddle and Annie Coriell were saved by Riordan over the game's final 10 minutes of play.

Shawnee State (4-12-1, 3-6 River States Conference) will look to cap its 2025 season with a victory at Indiana-Kokomo Saturday evening. Game time is set for Saturday, Nov. 1 at 5 p.m.