PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- For the second time this season Kaitlyn Abdon came through late for the University of Pikeville women's soccer team, netting another game-winning goal to help the Bears past Tennessee Temple 2-1 on Monday at the Bob Amos Complex.
UPIKE improves to a program-best 6-1 start, while the Crusaders dropped to 1-7 overall after their upset bid fell short in the game's final 10 minutes.
After finishing the first half without a goal being scored for either team, UPIKE's Jasmine Davis ended the drought in the 59th minute after a pair of passes from Olivia Gipson and Caitlyn Hunt. But Tennessee Temple responded with a 70th-minute equalizer from Paris Bentley before Abdon finished a cross from Kayla Scott in the 81st minute to secure the Bears' win.
Caitlyn Hunt picked up her second straight win in goal while replacing the injured Chelsea Schulte. The freshman from Belfry, Ky., had to make just one save as the Bears outshot the Crusaders 20-9 overall and 12-2 in shots on frame.
Abdon was hungry for a goal all night, taking a season-high 14 shots before finally finding the back of the net with nine minutes to play. Eight of her attempts were on target but were either saved by Lyndu Dodd who finished with 10 saves or ricocheted off the goal.
Bentley finished with four shots to lead Tennessee Temple and Shelby Cornelius backed her up with two. UPIKE controlled corner kicks 7-2, while fouls were nearly even at 8-7 in favor of the Bears.
UPIKE returns to action with another non-conference matchup at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday at Warren Wilson in Asheville, N.C.
