Box Score
The Bruin women had two challenges to face as they entered their match on Tuesday night. First, the team was playing in very cold weather as the biting wind was whirling all around Alumni Stadium from the start of the match. The second challenge came in facing the University of Pikeville Bears who had slipped by the Bruins 2-1 earlier this season. Though the weather would be cold, the Bruins looked excited and ready to get their team back to .500.

From the opening kickoff, fans could tell that the weather was having an impact on both teams. The wind was making it difficult for either side to make crisp passes and  the ball went back and forth for the first part of the game. Eventually the Bears and Bruins would compensate for the wind and begin to work the ball up the field.

“Both teams had to deal with it tonight,” Coach Carmichael said about the conditions. “It was miserable conditions but both teams played well through it.”

The Bruins had several good attempts throughout the first half as Sarah Porch, Lauren Peek and Rebecca Luttrell tried to get the offense going. Bruins’ goalie Tori Anderson squelched every Bears opportunity as she had 14 saves on the night. At the half, the teams were scoreless at 0-0.

In the second half, the wind picked up and so did both teams’ intensity as the Bears and Bruins looked for the goal to break the scoreless tie. Back and forth the two teams went with both nearly scoring on a number of different opportunities throughout the second half. As the game was nearing its end, the Bears had an opportunity for a corner kick in the 81^st minute of action. Carmen Koster took the corner and bent a high-arching pass right inside the box where Eleanor Hollingsworth tapped it in to break the tie and put the Bears up 1-0.

In the waning minutes of action, the Bruins tried several times to get shots on goal but failed to find the back of the net. The final buzzer gave the Bruins their second straight loss as the team completed their regular season at 7-9.

“We just really had one mistake tonight,” Coach Carmichael said. “We fell a little short, but I thought the girls played really well tonight. Now we just have to get a little rest and come back ready for the tournament”

The Bruin women have exceeded most fans expectations as the team has won seven games this year. The Bruins will await more information regarding the regional playoffs, but Coach Carmichael is confident his team will be ready for postseason play.