WKU Shuts Out UAB To Advance to C-USA Championship Semifinals

Tuesday, April 13

Houston, Texas

11 AM

Western Kentucky University

8-1-2

UAB

8-6-1

UAB

Western Kentucky

WKU Shuts Out UAB To Advance to C-USA Championship Semifinals

4/13/2021 2:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Jason Neidell and Ashley Kobylinski Postmatch

HOUSTON — WKU Soccer secured its third shutout in the last four matches with a 1-0 win against UAB in the first round of the Conference USA Championship on Tuesday in Houston. The Lady Toppers advance to the semifinals of the tournament and will take on the winner of North Texas and Charlotte on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.

"Every game now is a special moment," said head coach Jason Neidell. "We keep talking about moments and living in the moment. We said before the game that we were going to need to be stingy and proud defensively and then there would be moments of brilliance for someone and they would have to come through for us. That's exactly the way the game went."

Annah Hopkins gave WKU its lone goal of the match in the 33rd minute. The Lady Toppers had possession and bounced it around the box before the UAB goalkeeper made a play on the ball. The keeper wasn't able to secure it and the ball popped back out to Hopkins on the left side where she sent into the back of the net with her right foot.

"I'm extremely proud of our players for sticking together and finding a way to grind out a win. As they say every year in March Madness, survive and advance, and that was our mentality today," said Neidell.

The WKU defense had an impressive performance, holding off nine shots from the Blazers, including six in the second half. Goalkeeper Ashley Kobylinski made a season high five saves in the game.

UAB had a chance to notch an equalizer in the 72nd minute when they were awarded a penalty kick after a takedown in the box. Kamilah Mustafa took the kick, having a 6-of-6 rate in penalty kicks in her career at UAB. The seventh was no good, hitting the crossbar and bouncing back into play where WKU cleared it out.

The Lady Toppers' win in the tournament is their first win in a conference tournament since 2013 and it was their tournament victory since joining C-USA.

It was Kobylinski's fifth clean sheet of the season and brings her goals against average on the season down to 0.67 and her record this season is now 8-0-2.

WKU extends its unbeaten streak to 10 matches with an 8-0-2 record since a season-opening loss. The Lady Toppers remain the only team in C-USA without a conference loss.

Hopkins' first half goal was the fourth of the season for the freshman. She now has two match-winners with the other coming against Louisville.

How to follow the Lady Toppers: For complete information on WKU Soccer, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program via social media @WKU_Soccer on Twitter and Instagram.