Box Score
FULTON, Mo. -- It was the same song, but a different verse for the No. 3-seeded William Woods University women's soccer team on Friday night, as they suffer its second 1-0 home loss to No. 6-seeded Lyon College in nearly three weeks, this time the loss ended the Owls season in the first round of the American Midwest Conference tournament.
Katy Nalven's penalty kick in the 76th minute gave Lyon College (12-5-1) a 1-0 lead that they would never relinquish, as they end William Woods (10-8-1) season with a stunning first round upset.
It was an evenly played match between the conference's third and sixth seeds, as both squads were battling to a 0-0 tie in the game's first 75 minutes. Hannah Osmon was trying to split a trio of Owl defenders and was shoved inside the 18-yard box in the process to set up the eventual game-winning penalty kick.
William Woods won the battle of shots, 13-11, and were led by senior Jessica Varner's four shots, one of which was on goal.
Owl's goalkeeper Kelly Abernathy posted five saves in her final game in an Owls uniform. Abernathy will end her career with 176 saves, a total that is the fourth-highest in school history.
The Owls had a good chance at a goal during the game's first five minutes, as Rachel Meyer fired a shot towards the goal. Unfortunately, the shot went right into the arms of the Scots goalkeeper to prevent Meyer from her 12th score of the year.
Six minutes later, Jordan McNamara gave WWU another opportunity at an early goal with a shot towards the upper right corner. Lyon College goalkeeper Stephanie Spiteri made a spectacular diving save that knocked the ball out of bounds to keep William Woods off the scoreboard. On the on-suing corner kick, Ashley Deckard's cross found the head of Desiree Streif, but once again went right into the arms of Spiteri to keep the game scoreless.
It wouldn't be until the 39th minute before either team got a decent chance for a score. Lyon College's Maria Alonso got be ball past a diving Abernathy to give her a shot in front of an open net. The Owls caught a break, as Alonso's slow rolling kick trailed away from the goal and rolled harmlessly to the side.
Both teams were able to maintain their clean sheets for the remainder half, as the game was tied at 0-0 going into the break.
The Scot earned a pair of set pieces in the 53rd minute, but were unable to capitalize on either, leaving the game in a scoreless tie.
In the 60th minute Lyon College was looking at a three-on-one break, but Elyse Albright's pass went a little too far for the Scots to take advantage of, as the ball was cleared by Abernathy.
In the 76th minute Osmon was able to split three Owl defenders, yet was shoved in the back inside the 18-yard box to give Lyon College a penalty kick. Nalven stepped up to take the kick for the Scots and buried the shot to give Lyon the 1-0 lead.
Meyer had a chance at the equalizer in the 86th minute by getting the ball deep into the 18-yard box. However, her shot went wide left of the goal to keep WWU down 1-0.
A minute later, William Woods sent a corner kick into the box and neither team could control it, as both squads battled for the loose ball in front of the net. Eventually, the Scots were able to clear the ball with no harm done to their lead.
That would be the last good look at the goal for William Woods, as Lyon College packed it in on the defensive side to preserve its 1-0 first round victory.
The Owls end the 2013 season with an identical 10-8-1 mark from the 2012 season, but they were able to tie the school record for most conference wins in a season with seven. Jordan McNamara ended up as the team's leader in both goals and assists with 12 and nine respectively.
Check back with wwuowls.com after the conclusion of the AMC Tournament for conference regular and postseason awards.
