Women's Soccer did exactly what it needed to do at home Saturday night, beating the Clarke Pride 1-0 on Senior Night. The Ravens also got a little help elsewhere in the Heart of America Conference.
The win, coupled with Culver-Stockton College's 3-0 win against MidAmerica Nazarene University, propelled the Ravens into first place in the Heart on the last day of the regular season. For the seniors, the regular season Heart Championship is the third in their four-year careers.
Five minutes into the contest, Emily Ambuul was fouled outside the box and earned a free kick for the Ravens. On the free kick, Olivia Meyers played forward to Ambuul, who tapped back to Meyers, then peeled around the Pride defense and Meyers passed back to the junior. Ambuul's shot beat Abigail Kukuck to her right for the only goal of the contest.
The Ravens were able to find a couple more opportunities in the first half, but Kukuck and the Pride were up to the challenge. A Meyers corner kick found the heads of two Ravens players in the box, but Kuckuck snatched the second try out of the air.
Later in the first half, a rebound off of Kukuck fell to the feet of Natalie Duque, but her shot was blocked by a Pride defender and cleared out of the box, keeping the halftime score at 1-0 in favor of the Ravens.
The Ravens had eight shots in the first half, compared to three shots for the Pride.
The second half was full of close chances for the Ravens. Five minutes into the half, the Ravens nearly added to their lead when Anna Romano sent a cross into the middle of the box and found Nicole Kelly, but her shot sailed high of the goal.
With 26 minutes left in the second half, Romano was nearly able to chip a cross over Kukuck, but the keeper got there just in time to smother the try.
The Pride had their best chance with 22 minutes left to play, but Rachel Crawford's bending shot was saved by Ashley Rehagen.
Meyers took a shot just outside the box four minutes after Rehagen's save, but it barely missed high. Later in the half, there were several deflections inside the box, but the Ravens were unable to push the ball into the net.
A second goal wasn't needed, though, as the Ravens kept the Pride from getting any real opportunities to level the score. The Ravens totaled 19 shots in the contest, allowing the Pride just five shots. Rehagen notched two saves in the shutout win.
The Ravens, 15-1-2 overall and 9-1-1 in the Heart, earn the No. 1 seed in the Heart Tournament and will hold home-field advantage in each contest they play. The Ravens will play Friday, Nov. 2 in the quarterfinals of the Heart Tournament with the opponent yet to be determined.
