Nov. 7, 2002
Mobile, Ala. - The Western Kentucky women's soccer team saw its season come to an end Thursday night in the semifinals of the 2002 Sun Belt Conference Women's Soccer Tournament, losing to No. 1 seed and league champion Denver 3-0 at The Cage.
The Pioneers (16-1-2) advance to the championship game on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 4 p.m. against the winner of the North Texas/South Alabama semifinal. Western ended its season at 10-9-0. It is the second time that the two-year program has advanced to the Sun Belt Tournament semifinals. The Lady Toppers lost to North Texas 2-1 in the 2001 semifinals.
Denver, ranked 18th in the nation, broke the scoring column first with a goal by Kerri Weaver in the 41st minute of the first half. The goal gave the Pioneers, who outshot the Lady Toppers 11-4 in the first period, a 1-0 halftime advantage.
In the second half, the Pioneers extended their lead to 2-0 when Katie Antogiovanni scored an unassisted goal in the 50th minute. Melissa Behrent added a score in the 83rd minute of regulation to close out the scoring. For the match, Denver had the advantage the Lady Toppers in shots (25-5), corner kicks (11-1), and were whistled for 11 fouls to Western's 21. Lady Topper goalie Melissa Bailey (Bowling Green, Ky.) played admirably in defeat, saving eight shots on the night.
