MATTHEWS, N.C. — The Catawba College women's soccer team was clipped by Lenoir-Rhyne, 1-0, in the title game of the South Atlantic Conference Championship on Sunday at the Mecklenburg County Sportsplex at Matthews.
Catawba (13-5-2) was out-shot 19-12, but the Bears (13-6-1) had a much smaller advantage of 7-6 in shots on goal. Lenoir-Rhyne benefited from eight corner kick opportunities while giving up four. Cards were even at 1-1 with LR being whistled for one more foul in a 9-8 count.
Bree Ehmer posted a team-high four shots with three on goal, accounting for half of the Catawba Indians on-target output. Both of Brynn Calendine's attempts were directed on frame. Kennedy McGuire added one shot on goal, giving Catawba three players with an on-target chance. Lauren Zitt collected six saves between the posts in her 15th 90-minute match.
Calendine squared up a free kick and forced a diving save by the Bears in the sixth minute. LR flipped the momentum and started to make a living in its attacking end, resulting in a trio of shots.
A strong defensive effort by Calendine came in the 26th minute when the Bears fired on a loose ball outside the goal, sprinting in front to block the chance. The Catawba Indians wrestled possession back as Cadence Setzer sent a cross into the box where Ehmer got free, but the Bears mobbed the senior forward to end the threat.
Zitt faced her first on-target shot with 10 minutes left in the period on a delivery from Landry Boyles. Another came in the final seconds, but the Catawba defense fended it off in a critical defensive stand.
LR took the lead in the 60th minute with a Katie Durham set piece conversion from Lucia Hidalgo. The Bears forced a pair of saves and blocks soon afterward but failed to find insurance. On Catawba's attacking side, Ehmer had a shot deflected and another saved in the 81st minute.
The Catawba Indians threatened late with an opportunity for Ehmer that LR goalie Riley Miller gobbled up. One last attempt developed inside the last 20 seconds, but Alex Eguren's strike drifted off target.
Catawba now turns its attention to the NCAA Southeast Regional and the Selection Show on Monday, Nov. 9, airing at 7 p.m. on ncaa.com.
