ATHENS, Tenn.— In a battle of two of the top five teams in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) standings, the Montreat women's soccer team traveled on the road to take on the Tennessee Wesleyan University Bulldogs Saturday afternoon. A three-goal first half allowed the Bulldogs to create separation and triumph 5-2, resulting in a 5-3 overall record and 5-2 conference record for the Cavaliers.
 
Early pressure from the home team paid off as the Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead in just the 13^th minute. After a couple of offside calls and two wide shots, TWU got on the board at the 12:01 mark.
 
Zoe Frenier collected a shot for the Cavs only 28 seconds later; however, the wide effort was the lone attempt at goal for the visitors in the opening 45 minutes.
 
Tennessee Wesleyan (6-3, 5-1 AAC) hemmed the Cavaliers in their own half for nearly the entire first period, winning balls in the midfield and creating turnovers in the defensive third with tremendous pressure. Though Logan White registered a pair of first-half saves in net for Montreat, the TWU possession ultimately resulted in a second tally in the 42^nd minute and a third with 40 seconds remaining before the intermission.
 
The Bulldogs held large advantages in statistical categories at the break, outshooting the Cavs 9-1, 5-0 on frame, and earning three corners to the Cavaliers' none.
 
Against the run of play, Montreat was able to pull a goal back in the 53^rd minute. A turnover from the TWU defense gifted Frenier the ball with just the Bulldog keeper to beat. The Orlando, Fla. native took a touch on her right foot and slotted a shot across her body and into the net for her third tally of the year.
 
Despite Frenier's strike, Tennessee Wesleyan reestablished its three-goal edge under two minutes later, making the game a 4-1 contest in the 55^th minute; however, the Cavs weren't quite done either.
 
With 13:38 left in regulation, Sydney Jordan played a ball into the box after moving up into the attack. The centering attempt was headed up and over the Bulldog keeper by a TWU defender, resulting in an own goal that cut Montreat's deficit to two once more.
 
"I was proud that we kept competing and battling back into the match," stated head coach Kristin Eggert. "When you go down [in a game], you have to take some risks to get back into a match, and we did that. It exposed us for the final goal, but we put much higher pressure at the ball to create chances," she finished.
 
The Cavs had additional chances as the visitors threw numbers forward with time winding down in the competition, but it was Tennessee Wesleyan who concluded the matchup with the final tally. Krista Eik Hardardottir beat White to complete her hat-trick and seal the Bulldog victory with 34 seconds on the clock.
 
TWU outshot the Cavs 20-7 on the day and 11-3 on target. The home team controlled corners as well, winning all five of the game's set piece opportunities on the goal line. White ended the afternoon with five saves for Montreat.
 
Women's soccer now returns home for a three-game homestand beginning with a matchup against Bluefield University on Wednesday, Oct. 12. Kickoff at Pulliam Stadium is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.