PIKEVILLE, Ky. – The University of Pikeville women's soccer team fought hard but were ultimately unable to complete their comeback, suffering a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Campbellsville University Saturday night.
The Bears are now 0-5 in the Mid-South Conference, and fall to 5-7-2 overall. The Tigers go to 3-1 in the conference, and are now 10-4 on the season.
UPike fell into a hole early when Megan Campbell put a goal into the back corner of the net in the 3
rd minute for Campbellsville. Campbellsville took only two more shots (both after corner kicks) in the first half though in what quickly turned into a defensive struggle.
The second half was when the match truly got going, beginning when Jessica Ralph went to the top shelf to beat UPike's
Chelsea Schulte for a goal in the 55
th minute to give Campbellsville a 2-0 lead. Schulte would finish the game with five saves against two goals allowed.
UPike was able to answer in the 65
th minute when
Olivia Gipson scored from the edge of the box. In the 81
st minute UPike was awarded a penalty kick for a handball in the box by Campbellsville.
Kara Henning was chosen to face Campbellsville goalkeeper Brandie Hagerman, but her shot was stopped by a brilliant eye-level save by Hagerman.
Hagerman had two saves for the contest, but allowed only one goal.
The Bears went into desperation mode after that, taking four of their five shots in the second half. Although the Bears were able to keep the ball in Campbellsville's half for most of the last 10 minutes, they could not get through the Campbellsville defenders, who cleared the ball out well.
UPike was without
Kayla Scott for much of the game, who went down with a leg injury in the 31
st minute. Scott has 10 goals and one assist on the season, meaning she had contributed on half of UPike's 22 goals coming into the contest.
The Bears will play next on Tuesday when they visit Lindesy Wilson College. Their next home game will also be the last of the season, when they welcome St. Catharine College on the 29
th of October.
-UPIKE-
