CLEVELAND, Ga.— The Montreat women's soccer team took on the 21^st-ranked Truett McConnell Bears in an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament semifinal Wednesday night in Cleveland, Ga. TMU defeated the Cavaliers in regulation, 6-1, ending Montreat's regular season at 13-4 (11-3 AAC).
 
Truett McConnell (18-2, 13-1 AAC) put the pressure on Montreat early, stealing the opening kickoff in midfield and racing up the pitch toward goal. A sprinting TMU midfielder played a through ball to Hannah Logue near the penalty spot, but Payton Landy alertly jumped off her line and made a sliding stop to record her first save just seconds into the contest. The Bears continued to push in the opening minutes of the half, including a sequence in the 10^th minute in which they hit the crossbar twice.
 
In the 24^th minute, Truett McConnell finally found the back of the net. Initially building out of the back, a Bears defender played a long ball through midfield to Sydney League. League picked her head up, noticed Eliska Dvorakova making a central run and fed a pass toward the penalty spot. Dvorakova took an extra dribble after receiving the pass and slipped the ball past Landy for the match's opening goal.
 
Isabel Aguilar created three moments of danger for Montreat in the final 15 minutes of the half, including twice off free kicks. The other moment came from Montreat's high pressure, which forced a turnover and delivered a pass over to Aguilar, who turned and struck a shot from roughly 20 yards out. TMU goalkeeper Emelie Taylor was in position, however, and she made the leaning save to keep the Cavaliers off the scoresheet.
 
Just minutes before halftime, Truett McConnell doubled its advantage. Using an individual high press, Amaya Lukie won possession in the 43^rd minute. Lukie utilized her pace and dashed on the dribble into the penalty area, then calmly slowed and guided a shot into the right-side netting for a 2-0 lead.
 
The first-half stats slanted in TMU's favor, with the Bears outshooting the Cavaliers 17-5 through 45 minutes of play. Truett McConnell also had an edge on Montreat in shots on target (10-2) and corner kicks (3-1). Landy made eight saves in the first half to keep the Cavaliers in the contest.
 
Early in the second half, the Bears tacked on a third goal. The initial Bears' attacking buildup from the left flank ricocheted off defenders and attackers alike in the 18-yard box. The redirection was palmed away by Landy, but several TMU attackers were in position to keep the ball in play. League was one of them, and she tapped the loose ball across the goal line for her second individual tally and team's third.
 
Needing goals to work its way back, Montreat found its way onto the scoresheet in the 55^th minute. Jackie Montes forced a turnover in the midfield and immediately directed a pass to a sprinting Aguilar. With defenders closing in, Aguilar used a one-touch pass out to Zoe Frenier on her left. Frenier, as she entered the box, delivered an intelligent pass back to Aguilar, who then settled the ball with her shoulder and finished with her right foot on the volley, pulling the Cavaliers to within two goals (3-1).
 
Ranked No. 21 in the nation, Truett McConnell responded well to conceding a goal and answered with three goals of its own in the 62^nd, 64^th and 67^th minutes. Dvorakova made it 4-1 with her second goal of the match, beating two Cavaliers to the near post and redirecting a cross with her left foot into the net. Logue tallied her first goal of the match when she extended the lead to 5-1 after pouncing on a loose ball in the box and keeping her dribble alive until the ideal shooting window appeared. Lukie utilized her speed to register a brace and a 6-1 edge over Montreat when she out-raced the Cavalier backline and deposited a right-footed shot into the left-side netting.
 
Up 6-1, the Bears were able to hold Montreat at bay, allowing just two shots over the final 23 minutes of action. Montes forced Taylor to make a save in the 86^th minute, but the Cavaliers wouldn't find the back of the net for the remainder of the contest.
 
"I told our team to walk out of this match with our heads held high," said head coach Kristin Eggert. "We went 13-4 this season, had the highest MRPI rating in Montreat Women's Soccer history and had a victory against an opponent that this senior class had never beaten before. The future of our program is bright."
 
Truett McConnell controlled the match in its 6-1 triumph, outshooting the Cavaliers overall (29-9) and on frame (20-5). The Bears had the edge on corner kicks, 7-1, while Landy had the edge over Taylor in saves, 14-4.