CLEVELAND, Ga.— After advancing through the quarterfinal round of the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament, the Montreat women's soccer team faced a stiff test in the semifinals- the No. 19-ranked Truett McConnell University Bears. Playing on the road at the top seed in the bracket, the Cavaliers dropped a 5-0 decision, ending their season in the semifinal round of the AAC Tournament for the third straight year.
 
Truett McConnell (16-2-1) controlled much of the possession and quality scoring chances in the early going of the match. Despite three consecutive shot attempts from the Cavaliers, including off target efforts from Isabel Aguilar, Sofia Brotherton and Hayden Bunn within a span of 1:19, it was the home team who struck first.
 
The Bears broke the ice in the 20^th minute as a volley off one of TMU's two first-half corner kicks trickled across the goal line. Only 2:33 later, a giveaway on a wayward pass in the Montreat defensive third resulted in Truett McConnell's second of the evening.
 
After the Bears hit the crossbar with a try in the 33^rd minute, Bunn recorded the Cavaliers' initial shot on frame, a long-distance strike with less than nine minutes on the clock in the first half. Logan White made her fourth save of the opening period in the 42^nd minute; however, TMU continued pressing and scored its third goal three minutes before the intermission.
 
At the break, Truett McConnell led in nearly all statistical categories, including shots taken (14-7), shots on goal (7-1) and corners (2-0). White captained the first half of the match in saves with four.
 
The Bears were relentless in their attack, quickly adding a fourth tally and peppering the Montreat goal with chance after chance at the beginning of the latter period. In the end, the nationally-ranked side showed why it's one of the top 20 teams in the country, producing five goals on 29 shots in the competition—the final TMU tally came in the 66^th minute.
 
White stood tall in net, making seven total stops, including a phenomenal diving desperation save on a 1-v-1 attempt in the 82^nd minute; however, the Cavaliers failed to create a scoring threat offensively and lost the competition by the 5-goal spread. Aguilar and Bunn tied for the team lead with two shots each.

"We have to acknowledge what this group of seniors has done for Montreat women's soccer," mentioned head coach Kristin Eggert. "We have not only become competitive at the conference level, but we are also beginning to set our sights on the national scene."

With the defeat, women's soccer concluded its 2022 campaign with an 8-5-3 record.