WKU Ends 2017 Season in 2-0 Setback at UAB

Sunday, October 29

Birmingham, Ala.

1 P.M. CT

Western Kentucky University

7-9-1, 4-5-1

UAB

13-3-3, 7-2-1

WKU

UAB

10/29/2017 4:05:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Final 2017 Season Stats (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – WKU Soccer concluded its 2017 season on Sunday afternoon at BBVA Compass Field, falling 2-0 in a rescheduled match at UAB that served as the regular season finale for both sides.

WKU (7-9-1, 4-5-1 C-USA) ended the regular season with four wins in its last five matches, making a strong push in an attempt to reach the C-USA Tournament. The Lady Toppers finished with 13 points, tied with Charlotte for the eighth and final qualifying spot, but fell on the fourth tiebreaker against the 49ers. The two teams did not play head-to-head and had the same number of both total overall points and total points against common opponents, but Charlotte had a +7 goal differential against common opponents, while WKU notched a mark of +0 in the same category.

"I'm really proud of our kids. We fought through adversity this season, stuck together and rallied down the stretch to give us a chance today at postseason play," Head Coach Jason Neidell said. "We fell short, but these kids are fighters and will be back next year. I'm thankful for a fantastic group of seniors who it has been a privilege to coach."

Five seniors who were honored during WKU's Senior Night on Friday featured in their final matches for the Lady Toppers on Sunday afternoon; Hannah Chua, Allison Leone, Shayna Dheel, Nahyo Jalajel and Bria Mosley closed out their career with 37 victories over the last four seasons on The Hill.

WKU's 17 shots on Sunday matched its highest total against a conference opponent this season; the Lady Toppers also recorded 17 shots at Southern Miss and Middle Tennessee earlier this season. Chua, Sarah Gorham and Chandler Backes each had three shots apiece for WKU, and both Megan Morris and Tally Bishop added a pair.

In goal, Leone finished with four saves while playing the full 90 minutes to conclude her stellar WKU career. The Kennesaw, Ga., native finishes as WKU Soccer's all-time leader with four weekly awards and ranks second in goalkeeper minutes played (6,724), goalkeeper wins (37), goals against average (0.98) and solo shutouts (27) while also finishing third in total saves with 297.

For UAB (13-3-3, 7-2-1 C-USA), Jessica Do had a match-high four shots and the Blazers placed six of their 12 shots on goal on the afternoon. Do and Caroline Kehrer tallied UAB's two goals, while Kehrer, Regan Kommor, Morgan Key-Adams and Kassandra Daniel notched assists on the scores.

Kelsey Daugherty played the full match in goal for the Blazers, earning the solo shutout with four saves.

WKU pressured the Blazers' defense early, earning a corner kick in the first minute of the match and launching its first shot on goal off the foot of Morris at the 6:41 mark, but the Lady Toppers were unable to come away with an early advantage.

Do put UAB out in front at the 21:17 mark as the Blazers used her headed effort to convert a corner kick opportunity. Kommor played the ball in where it was stopped in the box by Kehrer and played up for Do for the go-ahead goal.

The Lady Toppers had four shots over the final 25 minutes of the first half but were unable to equalizer before heading into the locker room facing a 1-0 deficit.

Leone parried away a chance from UAB's Amy Brewer in the 59th minute, and Deven Jackson nearly pulled the Lady Toppers even two minutes later. The freshman found space and fired toward goal, but her chance was blocked away by a UAB defender.

UAB doubled its lead in the 66th minute, taking a 2-0 lead on Kehrer's goal. Set up on the right side of the box after passes from Key-Adams and Daniel, Kehrer fired a short shot past Leone, forcing the Lady Toppers to attempt to score twice over the final 20 minutes to equalize.

Despite strong forward pressure as the offense pushed up, the Lady Toppers were unable to find the back of the net in the closing minutes of the match. Chua and Bishop each had chances in the 83rd and 84th minute on shots that were stopped by Daugherty, and WKU registered seven shots in total over the final 10 minutes to close the season.