Rocky Mount, N.C. - The 4th-seeded women's soccer team of N.C. Wesleyan saw its 2016 soccer season come to an end on Wednesday afternoon in the first round of the USA South Conference Tournament, falling to 5th-seeded Averett by a 1-0 score at Scalf Field.
The Bishops looked to be in control early, getting off the first six shots of the match. Wesleyan's first three shots, in fact, were all on frame and were saved by Cougar keeper Bailee Brown. Averett then settled in, and the two teams would take a scoreless draw into the break.
AU got on the board early in the second half when a 30-yard shot by Kaitlyn Barbour found the back of the net less than five minutes in. The Bishops, who out-shot the Cougars 17-9 on the day, narrowly missed a trio of equalizers in the period as an Ella Burkhart blast hit the post (53'), a Jordan Forbess shot was saved off the line by an AU defender (76'), and a Marissa Aguilar touch was saved by Brown (87').
Averett advances to play top-seeded Meredith in Raleigh on Saturday, while Wesleyan ends its season with a 10-6-2 overall record. The Bishops say farewell to four seniors: Ashley Sankner, Logan Bill, LeAnnza Ussery, and Brittany McGraw.