HICKORY, N.C. – The No. 12 ranked Catawba Women's Soccer team suffered their second loss of the season in the final regular season game of the year at the hands of Lenoir-Rhyne, 4-1, in Hickory.

This year's regular season final and clash of rivals had significant ramifications, with Lenoir Rhyne (10-2-3) moving to 9-0-2 in South Atlantic Conference play and Catawba (14-2-2) dropping to 8-1-2 in the conference. Catawba found themselves on the back foot offensively for the first time this season, with Lenoir-Rhyne becoming the first team to outshoot them. The Bears had 15 efforts to Catawba's 12, with nine of Lenoir-Rhyne's shots finding the target and four getting past Sierra Davis in net. Catawba managed just four shots on goal, with Lenoir-Rhyne keeper S.A. Phillips producing three saves.

The Bears put in a huge team performance, holding Catawba defensively for most of the game while also having four different players score. Elin Hansson became the first of the bunch when she spun past a pair of Catawba defenders in the box after being picked out by Kate Casy before slotting a shot home to the far post on the half hour mark.

Kara Gavaghan would make it 2-0 Lenoir-Rhyne in the final minute of the half, with Hansson becoming the provider this time. After bursting into the box Hansson flashed a low cross past the goal to the arriving Gavaghan, who would make no mistake. 

It wouldn't get any better for Catawba coming out of halftime, with Evan O'Leary delivering the third goal for the Bears in the 57^th minute. A costly giveaway in the box allowed Leonie Proessl to swing a cross into traffic, and O'Leary was the first player there, able to beat Davis with powerful near post header.

Sydney Jimmo would give Catawba a lifeline in the 74^th minute, latching onto a beautiful ball over the top of the defense from Riley Dorman and then hammering her shot past Phillips in net. That would prove to be it for Catawba though as the Bears answered back in the 80^th minute to put the game away. Abbie Biddle produced a stunning moment when she took control of a rebound on the edge of the 18-yard both and then struck a brilliant half volley that flew into the top right corner to make it 4-1. 

For both teams, they now look ahead to the South Atlantic Conference tournament with the regular season having come to a close. Catawba will look to put the loss behind them, with a few days to regroup before they open postseason play at home against the Tusculum Pioneers on Saturday, October 29^th at 7:00 PM.