HICKORY, N.C. - Despite a first-half goal from freshman Megan Foster, Anderson University women's soccer could not hang on to its lead, falling to South Atlantic Conference rival Lenoir-Rhyne, 2-1, Saturday afternoon at Bears Field.
With the setback, the Trojans snap a five-match winning streak and drop to 10-2 on the season and 5-2 in the SAC, while the Bears earned their second straight conference victory and improve to 8-4 overall and 5-2 in conference play.
Despite the setback, AU struck first in the 18th minute when senior Mariana Poveda sent a corner kick into the Lenoir-Rhyne box. Unmarked, Foster headed in a shot to the near post and scored her third goal of the season. The goal would be the only tally of the opening period, as the Black and Gold held the one-goal advantage into the halftime break.
L-R bounced back in the 59th minute when Jessica Tooley sent a free kick into the Anderson box. While in the air, defender Emmi Dunn headed in the Bears' first goal to even the match at 1-1. Dunn was not done, as she added the eventual game-winning goal in the 84th minute when the home side was awarded a penalty kick due to an AU handball inside its own box. For Dunn, the defender reached double-figure goals with 10 on the season.
"Lenoir-Rhyne are a solid outfit and have competed with the best in the country to this point," Anderson head coach Ciaran Traquair said. "I felt we stuck to our plan and were undone by a questionable penalty kick decision late in the game. The girls put in a shift and competed very well and were on the ascendency right before they got the winner. It's a setback, but one our team can live with and build from."
AU goalkeeper Abby Helm finished the match eight saves, marking her second-highest total in a conference match this season. Helm's counterpart, L-R's Andrea Leano posted three saves in the winning effort.
The Trojans look to get back on winning track on Wednesday when they host nonconference opponent Emmanuel. Kick-off from Trojan Stadium is scheduled for 2 p.m.
