CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Senior Megan Morris scored her first goal of the season in the ninth minute, but a pair of early goals from Charlotte were the difference as WKU fell, 2-1, at Transamerica Field on Friday night in C-USA action.
WKU (2-6-2, 0-3 C-USA) entered the night playing its fourth match of a five-match road swing, the longest stretch in program history. Chandler Backes and Morris each recorded a shot on goal for the Lady Toppers, and Morris' early goal was also the fourth of her career and first since scoring against Evansville on Sept. 3, 2017.
Bailee Witt turned in another strong performance in goal, making seven saves to stymie the powerful attack of the 49ers (7-3, 3-0 C-USA). The Plainfield, Ill., native now has five or more saves in four of her last six matches dating back to WKU's Aug. 31 match against Lipscomb.
Annie Sorando and Sophie Sipprell scored Charlotte's goals in the third and eighth minutes, respectively, and Megan Greene added two assists on the night. Sipprell and Julia Grainda led all players with five shots apiece, and Abby Stapleton played the full 90 minutes between the posts for the 49ers, making one first-half save to earn the clean sheet.
Witt was pressed into action early for the Lady Toppers, making her first stop of the night on a rebounded attempt before the 49ers jumped in front on a goal at the 2:43 mark. Sorando fired past Witt after an assist from Greene to give Charlotte the early 1-0 advantage.
The 49ers doubled their lead just under five minutes later on a strike by Sipprell, but the Lady Toppers answered back almost immediately off the foot of Morris. Nicole Roseland served up a corner kick for WKU which Charlotte attempted to clear out; however, Morris gained control of the ball at the top of the 18-yard box and fired past Stapleton and into the right corner to cut the deficit to 2-1 with 8:26 on the clock.
Three saves in a nine-minute span from Witt midway through the half prevented the 49ers from adding to the lead, while Backes gave WKU its best chance of the half in the 25th minute, narrowly missing the equalizer as the Charlotte goalkeeper came away with the save, helping to send both sides into the locker room with the Lady Toppers trailing by one goal.
Throughout the second half, Witt shined for the Lady Toppers, making three saves in the frame to keep WKU within striking distance, including a stop against Greene, Charlotte's leading scorer, with just under 15 minutes remaining.
Charlotte's defense clamped down on WKU over the final 45 minutes, holding the Lady Toppers without a shot despite good attacking opportunities. With just over 25 minutes left, WKU was whistled offside on back-to-back possessions to end threatening attacks, and the Lady Toppers were unable to find the equalizer over the closing minutes of the match.
WKU will close out its long road trip on Sunday afternoon at Noon (CT) as the Lady Toppers battle Old Dominion in Norfolk, Va. Following this weekend's bouts, WKU will finally return home to the WKU Soccer Complex next weekend for a pair of battles against FIU (6 p.m. on Oct. 5) and UTEP (1 p.m. on Oct. 7). The Lady Toppers own a six-match unbeaten streak (4-0-2) at home stretching back to last season and have posted a win (Kentucky Christian) and two ties (Miami and Lipscomb) thus far this season.
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