A pair of headers off corner kicks and solid defense gave Campbellsville University its record ninth shutout and 11
win of the regular season in a 2-0 win over Bethel University at Finley Stadium.
"It is nice to get a win and build on these records, and to get a win for our seniors," CU head coach
Thom Jones said.
The Lady Tigers came out firing from the start, as
Megan Campbell looked to assist
Audra Hockenberger for CU's first goal, however the shot missed off the inside left post. It was the first of two shots off the post by the freshman and the first of at least 10 solid scoring opportunities for CU in the half.
Campbellsville scored its first goal off a
Cassie Yannelli corner kick in the eighth minute with a header by
Bailey McDonough.
Yannelli and
Jessica Ralph each had scoring opportunities in the 25
th minute to distance the game, but both shots inside the 18 were altered by defenders. Yennelli also fired a rocket into the gut of Bethel goalkeeper Jessica Coates in the 33
rd minute and had another strong shot saved in the 41
st minute. Coates finished with eight saves in the game.
The Lady Tiger defense held Bethel without a shot on goal until 13 seconds left in the first half. While the shot attempt by Deslyan Langeigne was stopped by CU goalkeeper
Brandie Hagerman, the Wildcats' momentum carried over into the second half. Alison Duke struck quickly to start the second half into the hands of Hagerman, her second of five saves in the game.
Bethel worked to even the possession in the second half, collecting eight second-half shots to Campbellsville's 10. In addition to Hagerman's four second-half saves, the Wildcats main opportunity to even the score came with about five minutes left to play, when senior
Jessica Hupp made a sliding tackle to wipe out a potential one-on-one for the Wildcats.
"I was the last defender and knew I had to get there. If I hadn't, then there was a good chance she may score and it would have been a completely different game," Hupp said.
Campbellsville finally found its insurance goal in the final minute, final second to be exact, as Campbell struck a diving header off Yannelli's corner kick to make the final 2-0.
"Bethel really wasn't pressuring us anymore. I wanted Cassie to hurry it and I was able to get a head on it," said Campbell, who extended her scoring streak to eight games. "I'm hoping to keep scoring, but I mainly want to do what I can to help us win."
The goal gives Campbell her 13
th of the season, tying
Laura Swencki's mark in 2009 for the most single-season goals by a player in Jones' four years as head coach.
Prior to the game, CU seniors
Brittany Halcomb, Hupp and
Brittany Spicer were honored. Hupp, who is hoping to serve as the Lady Tigers' graduate assistant in 2011, said the season has not been what it could have been because of some close games that slipped away, but "we still have time to come back and leave a mark and finish where we want to be, which is first in the Mid-South Conference Tournament."
CU will open its play in the MSC Tournament Saturday, Nov. 6, as it hosts Shawnee State University in the MSC quarterfinals at 5 p.m. ET in Finley Stadium.