BOX SCORE

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University women’s soccer team dropped a heartbreaking 1-0 decision to cross-state rival Western Kentucky on Sunday afternoon at the WKU Soccer Complex. WKU forward Kellie Walker scored the game-winner off a header with 1:25 left in regulation to lift the Hilltoppers to victory.

Despite the loss, head coach Lindsay Basalyga said it was the best soccer her team had played all year.

“This time last year when we were playing WKU, we were holding on for dear life,” Basalyga said. “Today, however, we fought and competed confidently the entire game. We are a lot better team now than we were at this time last year.”

Basalyga noted that the Colonels controlled the game in the first half, and the statistics support that. EKU outshot the Hilltoppers, 6-5, in the first 45 minutes of play.

Freshman midfielder Alex Hess, in particular, had a great scoring opportunity in the first half, and would have completed it if not for a great save by WKU goalie Libby Stout. Hess led the Colonels with three shots on the day, all of which were on goal.

In the second half, the Hilltoppers outshot the Colonels, 6-1, and in the 88th minute, Walker headed a ball from the right side of the goal past EKU junior keeper Stephanie Lynch to give WKU the victory.

Lynch played all 90 minutes of the match for EKU and made three stops on the day.

“We were disappointed because we put in so much work,” Lynch said. “It didn’t turn out our way, and that’s unfortunate. But we are where we need to be.”

Sophomore midfielder Heather Bruce echoed Lynch’s sentiments.

“We want to learn from this experience and move forward,” Bruce said. “We’re a better team than we were yesterday, and that is this team’s goal.”

With the loss, EKU drops to 1-3 on the season while WKU improves to 3-0.

The Colonels will host Cleveland State and Winthrop next weekend at EKU Soccer Field.

“This game is going to be a character-builder,” Basalyga said. “We’ll see how the players respond on Tuesday at practice.”