HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hilltoppers stayed in control for much of the first half of the match. Makenna Egan opened the match with a shot to the bottom of the goal, but the MTSU goalkeeper was able to record the save. In the eighth minute, WKU earned back-to-back corner kicks, with the first attempt coming up unsuccessful. On the second, Kora Kipley played the short ball into Mya Jackson, who sent a pass to a diving Cena Carlson. Carlson finished with a header to put the Hilltoppers ahead, 1-0. Carlson nearly doubled the score shortly after, but a diving goalkeeper and the Blue Raider defenders were able to clear the ball out of play. Becca Roth entered the match in the 22nd minute and immediately made her presence known, firing off a shot a minute later. MTSU continued to search for the equalizer, recording its first shot on goal in the 29th minute, but Mia Riddick came up with the save. The Blue Raiders continued to apply pressure on the corner kick, but Kipley came up with the team save to keep WKU's lead intact.
WKU opened the second half with the same intensity as Georgia Liapis fired a shot that was blocked by a Blue Raider defender in the opening minutes. Freshman Rose Finnegan found the rebound, and her shot deflected to Carlson, who sent it past the diving goalkeeper to double the Hilltoppers' lead. Freshman goalkeeper Emma Teague entered the match and recorded two saves to keep the Tops in front. Carlson continued to search for the hat trick, launching another shot that narrowly missed the back of the net and struck the crossbar. In the 68th minute, MTSU earned a penalty kick from the edge of the box and converted to get on the board. However, on WKU's eighth corner kick of the match, Mya Jackson found the ball and fired a low shot past the MTSU goalkeeper and defenders to extend the Hilltoppers' lead. The Blue Raiders made one final push with a long-range shot from near midfield, but Teague came up with a leaping save to prevent any further damage and secure the 3-1 victory for WKU.
QUOTABLE
"I'm really proud of our team," said Head Coach Jason Neidell. "We had a professional approach to the game tonight. I thought our depth played a big role in the 2nd half, and we attacked with urgency and numbers. With the win, we finished the regular season with great momentum, and I'm excited to carry that into the conference tourney next week."
NOTABLES
- WKU finishes regular season play with just one loss for just the third time in program history, tying the program record from 2020 and 2008
- The Hilltoppers' 11 victories this season rank eighth in WKU program history
- WKU generated 24 shots, with 17 being on goal, while the Tops' defense limited the Blue Raiders to just five shots on goal
- The nine corner kicks marked a season high for the Hilltoppers
- Cena Carlson recorded her first brace as a Hilltopper, scoring her third and fourth goals of the season
- Carlson recorded a career-high seven shots, with five being on goal
- Mya Jackson scored her second goal of the season in as many consecutive games
- Rose Finnegan recorded her second assist of the season
- Goalkeepers Mia Riddick and Emma Teague combined for three saves
- WKU moves to 11-7-8 agaisnt MTSU all-time
NEXT UP
The Hilltoppers will open the CUSA Tournament in Newark, Delaware, on Sunday, Nov. 8. WKU's seed in the conference tournament will be determined following the conclusion of the final regular-season conference match.
