CLEVELAND, Ga. (Apr. 1, 2021) –The regular season saw a 0-0 draw between the Truett McConnell University women's soccer team and Montreat College, but TMU showed their grit by securing the final match up with the Cavaliers with a 2-1 win in the Appalachian Athletic Conference Semifinals at the TMU Soccer/Lacrosse Complex on Thursday evening. The AAC Regular Champions improved to a record of 13-3-2, 12-0-1 AAC on the year, while the Cavs completed their season at 8-3-3, 8-2-3 AAC.

The Lady Bears will now look to face No. 2 Reinhardt University in the AAC Championship, who they beat in regular season in overtime (2-1), at the TMU Soccer/Lacrosse Complex. Game time and day is to be determined.

PLAY-BY-PLAY
Both teams were evenly matched for almost the entire first period, retaliating each other's every shot and resilient on defense. It wasn't until the 39th minute that a foul on TMU gave Montreat the opportunity they needed to steal the first goal of the game off a penalty kick (0-1). The defending AAC tourney champions responded with six back-to-back shots, four that were taken off a single corner kick, but were unable to find the back of the net as time ran out to end the half (0-1).

The Lady Bears came out hot in the second half, taking shot within the first minute, in route to outshoot Montreat 16-3 in the final 45 minutes of the game, and hitting the board in the 49th minute from a goal line shot from Kristin Beasley, with an assist from Sydney League. TMU did not let up as they took 13 more shots, while earning two corner kicks. In the 82nd minute, the Lady Bears found themselves at the goal line once more after Beasley crossed into the box, which then led to Madison Wright hitting a post shot, ultimately resulting in an Ashleigh Smitherman goal who finished Wright's deflected shot off the post (2-1). The Lady Bears went on to hold the Cavs shotless and scoreless for the remainder of the half to secure the win with a final score of 2-1. 

LEADERS
Most notable, Smitherman broke the program record for most goals in a single season (12). Smitherman led with five shots, two on goal. Beasley recorded TMU's other goal. League also led with five shots, three on goal, and was credited an assist. Natalie Alamri tallied five shots, Wright had one shot and one assist, and goalie Addy Galason had two saves, totaling 49 on the season.
Overall, TMU outshot 25-8 and earned three corner kicks to Montreat's one.