The Bears scored the only goal in the first half when Jed Hohlbein scored a goal in the 25th minute. Jon Watson and Doug Lascody assisted on the score, which gave Southwest Missouri St. a 1-0 lead heading into halftime. The Bears outshot Western 10-4 in the first half.
In the second half, Western pulled even when Ben Buerger (Sr., Louisville, Ky.) fired a free kick from 10 yards out in the 72nd minute that tied the score at one. However, Lascody scored a goal in the 80th minute that proved to be the game winner. Hohlbein and Jamal Sutton were credited with assists on the goal. Western had a chance in the final minute to tie the score but were denied when Jacob Isenhour's last minute shot was stopped by Southwest Missouri St. goalie Matt Pickens.
For the contest, the Bears outshot the Hilltoppers 21-14. Hilltopper goalie Daryl Sattler (Jr., Cordova, Tenn.) (7-10-1), who saved five shots on the day, suffered the defeat while Pickens picked up the victory.
Western closes out its season Friday with a road match against Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn. Match time is set for 7:00 (CST).
