ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western women’s soccer team came up just short of pulling off a huge upset to end the 2015 regular season. An outstanding performance in goal from Sarah Lyle came with just one blemish in a 1-0 loss to No. 10 Central Missouri.

The junior goalkeeper turned in one highlight save after another on her way to an 11-save match. Central Missouri’s only goal came in the 62nd minute when Megan Wooley rolled one to Lyle that just got under her hand and trickled past the line before Lyle could stop it. Lyle’s stellar performance overshadowed a challenging day offensively for the Griffons. Missouri Western managed just seven shots to Central Missouri’s 23. The Jennies had six corner kicks and Missouri Western none.

Sydney Cluck, Nikki Birr, Paige Phipps and Layne Shepherd each had a shot on goal for the Griffons. Bridget Blessie and Ashlyn Powers added the other two Griffon shots.

Prior to the game seniors Katie Kempf, Sydney Andrews, Drew Mantlo, Melody Johnson and Nikki Birr were honored as part of Senior Day festivities. The group helped Missouri Western to clinch its first ever winning season and second trip to the MIAA Tournament, after making the first ever last season.

Missouri Western finishes the regular season 9-7-1 overall and 5-5-1 in the MIAA.

For the second straight year, the Griffons are headed to the postseason as they qualified for the MIAA Tournament.

Missouri Western is the six seed and will open the tournament on Wednesdaybat Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The match will begin at 7 p.m. and is a rematch of the teams’ Sept. 27 contest that Northeastern State won 1-0.

Semifinal matches will be played on Friday at campus sites with the championship match coming on Nov. 8 at the highest remaining seed’s home pitch.

— MWSU Athletics —