CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Lady Tiger soccer could not hold down the No. 8 team in the nation, giving up three, second-half goals to Cumberland University. Those three goals were the deciding factor as Campbellsville (3-2, 0-1 MSC), lost 3-2 to the Bulldogs on Thursday night at Finley Stadium.
BOX SCORE
"It was a hard fought match all the way to the end," said CU Head Coach Thom Jones. "We came out on fire in the first half and then they answered to start the second half. I knew it would be a battle till the end, and Cumberland showed why they were ranked the No. 8 team in the nation."
The young Campbellsville team didn't let a top 10 ranking intemidate them and took an early 1-0 lead off the foot of freshman Melissa Garvey. Sophomore captain Chelsea Gill delivered a pass on the right side of the box and Garvey used a chip shot over the Bulldog goalkeeper, Lindsey Kitson, to give CU the lead.
Campbellsville was 3-0 on the season coming into the game while leading at half time but Cumberland head coach Gavin McKinney awoke his troops and the Bulldogs answered the call.
Taylor Nay received a pass from Olivia Chu just a minute into the second half and knotted the game at one.
But Campbellsville did not give in and answered two minutes later. Mhairi Fyfe delivered a pass to Rachel Veatch to put the Lady Tigers back up 2-1 in the 47th minute.
"I told the girls at half time that they would try to come out and punch us right in the mouth," said Jones. "Good teams always capitalize. But we did not give up and came right back with a goal of our own. Our defense slacked on their goal but our offensive picked up the slack and gave us the lead back."
But soon after, the Bulldogs came alive and scored two unanswered goals to tie the game and eventually regain the lead. Nay delivered a perfect corner kick into the box and Shauna Gilpin, who stands at 5-foot-10, jumped over the Campbellsville defense to head the ball past goalkeeper Amanda Howard.
Howard could not keep Cumberland out of the net, though, as Kaitlin Phillips picked up the game-winning goal in the 74th minute.
The freshman from Harrodsburg, Ky., who has been named NCCAA Defensive Player of the Week twice in the first three weeks, had 11 saves for the Lady Tigers.
"I have been grateful to have goalkeepers come in their freshman year and make a difference right away," said Jones. "Amanda has made at least one great save a game and that is all I ask from her. With her just being a freshman, the sky is the limit. Her hard work will determine if she just wants to be an average keeper or one that will write her name in the CU record books."
The difference maker in the game was the total shots by both teams. Campbellsville held Cumberland down in the first half with three shots and only two on goal. But the Bulldogs recorded 17 shots in the second half with 12 on goal.
The Lady Tigers recorded six shots, two in the first half and four in the second half.
Campbellsville was playing without two key starters that were out due to injury: junior Aris Kuntz and leading goal scorer Madison Ratchford.
"We came into the game without two of our starters but our reserves stepped up and played great," said Jones. "The best thing about our team is that we do not have any superstars ... We have to play as a team, and I commend the girls for doing that day-in and day-out. We are getting better every practice and every game. That is our goal this season to play as one and we are doing that. I am proud of the girls."
Campbellsville will now get out of league play and host NCAA DII Trevecca Nazarene University on Saturday, Sept. 13. Game time is set for 7 p.m. ET at Finley Stadium.
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