Rebuck's Equalizer Not Enough in Women's Soccer Semifinal Loss to Yellow Jackets

FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Women's Soccer team suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to West Virginia State in the MEC Tournament Semifinals on Wednesday night.
 
WVSU opened the game up with an early shot from distance that was gathered by senior keeper Katie Sterne. The Bobcats moved up the field after five minutes, where juniors Jayme Sooy and Morgan Mrizek each sent efforts high and wide. Seven minutes later, the Yellow Jackets followed up a corner kick hitting the outside of the post with Ellise Rennie cutting her way through the box for a left-foot finish into the bottom corner for a 1-0 lead. Another deep shot was saved by Sterne five minutes later, as much of the next 12 featured little in the way of chances.
 
With 15 minutes on the clock, junior Mary Greco launched a throw into the box, where freshman Cassidy Paige flicked it on to classmate Mollie Rebuck, as her shot hit keeper Laura Galindo and trickled over the line to tie things 1-1. It wouldn't last long, however, as a long ball into the box by Nagi Higashi was brought down by Leila Karam, as she held off her defender to put the ball past Sterne, immediately regaining the lead. As the half wound to a close, junior Carly Gillette had a long ball into the area, which Galindo punched away to a corner, but it came to nothing as the half ended with the visitors up 2-1.
 
Each team had efforts that went wide of the mark to start the second half, then the Bobcats had a pair of shots blocked within the first 20 minutes. WVSU kept FSU at bay for long periods of time and looked to hit on the counter, which almost got them a third if not for a diving save by Sterne, who then made a much easier catch a minute later. With the game entering the final couple minutes, the Bobcats tried to make something happen late on, as Gillette and freshman Rayiah Davis both had shots charged down, while senior Mei Homman sent a ball in that was grabbed by Galindo. That would be the final action of the game, as the Yellow Jackets held on for the 2-1 victory.
 
FSU held an 11-9 shots advantage, but only three on target to the visitors' six.
 
With the loss, Frostburg falls to 15-3-2 on the year, while West Virginia State advances to the MEC Championship Game at 14-3-3. The Bobcats now await to see if their name will be called for the NCAA Tournament on the Selection Show Monday, November 18 at 7 p.m.