CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Lady Tiger soccer overcame a slow start and put the pedal to the metal in their quarterfinal matchup against Pikeville Thursday. Campbellsville keeps its season alive with a 6-1 win and will now face No. 2 seed Cumberland University in the Mid-South Conference semifinals Thursday, Nov. 13 at 3 p.m. ET
The Lady Tigers (13-6) are now on a eight-game win streak and have scored 45 goals during that stretch compared to only allowing two. With the six goals tonight, CU broke last year's single-season record of 60 goals and now sits at 61.
"We are playing at the top of our game at the right time," said CU head coach Thom Jones. "When we are beating teams the way we are, it gives us confidence and shows that we can play with the top teams in our conference. It is really fun to watch as a coach, and I am excited for next week when we play Cumberland."
BOX SCORE - TOURNAMENT BRACKET
Aris Kuntz received a pass from Rachel Veatch and put the Lady Tigers up 1-0 in the 15th minute. But UPike came right down and answered, knotting the match at one.
Kaitlyn Abdon scored her team-leading 13th goal just three minutes after the Kuntz score and gave the Bears a little motivation.
"I told the girls that it was the playoffs and they were going to come out with a little fire," said Jones. "It was their final chance in the season and we just got a little bit lazy and let them believe they could play with us."
But Campbellsville put that spark out and set its own flame to the nets. The Lady Tigers picked up three other first half goals and two second-half goals to dash the hopes of a major upset in the MSC Tournament.
Mhairi Fyfe kicked in the first of her three goals in the 27th minute and Campbellsville kept its up-paced tempo running wild.
Veatch picked up a goal off a Devon Burnside assist and Kuntz scored her second goal, assisted by Veatch, just before the first half ended.
Campbellsville didn't let up in the second stanza with Fyfe leading the charge. The sophomore from Livingston, Scotland picked up her team-leading 22nd and 23rd goals and extended her single-season goal record that was broken last week at University of the Cumberlands. With the three goals tonight, Fyfe has recorded three hat tricks in three-straight games to lead CU.
Fyfe now has 23 goals on the season and 37 goals in her two-year career. She is on pace to break Jessica Ralph's career mark of 56 goals set last season.
Veatch also had a career-night, picking up three assists after adding the single goal.
"Mhairi keeps our offense going," said Jones. "Our attacks run through her and she is on a tear right now that nobody can stop. It was good to see Rachel get three assists and a goal tonight. She has played well down the home stretch the last fews games."
UPike had only one chance in the second half, but goalkeeper Amanda Howard kept the Bears out of the net. Howard finished with two saves but one in the second half turned into a highlight reel stop. UPike's Abdon had a one-on-one fast break but was denied by a diving save in the final 73 minutes.
"Amanda has played well all year and she always comes up with the big save," said Jones. "But the two goals allowed the past eight games also shows that we have a strong line of defense. Alysen Shireman leads the way in the middle, and the rest of the team really works great together with Amanda keeping teams out of the net."
You can follow the Lady Tigers throughout the Mid-South Conference Tournament on the MSC Tournament page, HERE. All games will be streamed live on Campbellsville's Stretch Internet Game Central – HERE!
Follow CU Women's Soccer on Twitter - @CUWSTiger and @CvilleTigers. Also, on Facebook – Campbellsville Tigers.
