BATESVILLE, Ark. -- Needing a win to assure itself of hosting rights in the opening round of the AMC Postseason Tournament, the William Woods University women's soccer team took care of business on Saturday with a 2-1 comeback win over Lyon College.
Jamie Palermo (Santa Fe, N.M.) bagged a brace for the Owls in the win.
The Owls found themselves in an early hole. Maria Monterroso collected the ball in front of the net off a pass from Hannah Osmon. The freshman found the back of the net, but it would be the only goal allowed by Owls netminder
Kelly Abernathy (St. Charles, Mo.) on the day.
WWU was able to find an equalizer in the 14th minute, as Palermo collected the first of her two goals on the day. A shot from
Stephanie Kirvan (Sunrise Beach, Mo.) rattled the crossbar and fell directly to the foot of Palermo, who slotted it home from point blank range.
Haley Pipes (Edmond, Okla.) nearly put William Woods in front in the 17th minute, but her effort was saved by Stephanie Spiteri.
After going into halftime deadlocked at 1-1, the Owls stepped up the pressure, looking for the win.
The Owls forced a pair of quick saves from Spiteri in the 48th minute, as back-to-back shots from Pipes and Palermo were kept out but the Scots goalkeeper.
Kirvan had a chance saved in the 55th minute, with
Casey Kesselheim (St. Charles, Mo.) forcing a stop from Spiteri in the 56th.
A recycled attack on a WWU corner kick would break the deadlock in the 63rd. After the service from
Ashley Deckard (Granite City, Ill.) was cleared,
Kathleen Berhorst (High Ridge, Mo.) found Deckard on the wing again. The second effort found Palermo's foot for the gamewinner, her third of the year.
The Owls allowed just one decent chance for the Scots down the stretch, but Abernathy was able to turn away the Monica Ayala shot in the 88th minute to preserve the win.
William Woods moves to 5-2 in league play on the year and is 9-6-1 overall. The Owls close out the regular season schedule on Monday with a home tilt against Park University. Kickoff for the "Pinkout" match, presented by Holiday Inn Express, is set for 5 p.m.
