LAURINBURG, N.C. (Oct. 24, 2020) – Despite a scoreless halftime, the Truett McConnell University women's soccer team came out on top with their eighth straight Appalachian Athletic Conference win at St. Andrews University on Saturday afternoon (1-0). The Lady Bears recorded their seventh straight shutout to improve to 8-0-1, 8-0-1 AAC on the season.
Although the Lady Bears took a total of seven shots, five on target, the Knights held TMU scoreless into halftime (0-0). Nonetheless, sophomore Lauren Bergevine scored the winning goal for the Lady Bears 22 minutes into the second half (1-0). Junior Sydney League passed it back to the feet of Bergevine to allow the sophomore to shoot over SAU's keeper from about 25 yards out. Both teams accounted for two more shots the rest of the way, but it was ultimately the Lady Bears who secured the shutout.
"It's that point in the season where a little bit of mental and physical tiredness creeps in," Head Coach David McDowell said. "It's a long grind and we ask a lot out of our girls and I honestly believe there isn't a harder working team than us in the conference. It's a group of girls committed to excellence and getting 1% better each day, and that showed today.
The girls showed their amazing character and personality at a tough place to come and play. And as they've done throughout the season, they found a way to get a win. It was a great goal from Lauren, who has been fantastic defensively all season.; it showed her attacking progress."
Individually, League and senior Tori Wilson took three shots apiece. Sophomores Madison Wright and Ashleigh Smitherman, and freshman Sarah Currey all tallied two shots on goal. Freshman Addy Galason recorde her eighth win in goal with three saves.
TMU ranks first in the NAIA in total shutouts (8) and second in shutouts per game (0.88). The team also ranks 19th in shots per game (21.0). Galason ranks sixth in goals against per game (0.13), while Smitherman ranks seventh in total game winning goals (3).
Up next, TMU returns home to the TMU Soccer/Lacrosse Complex to host Brenau University on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 7:00 p.m.
