CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas- The 2021 McNeese Cowgirl soccer season came to a close after dropping the semifinal matchup of the Southland Conference Tournament 1-0 to no. 3 seeded Incarnate Word Cardinals (9-9-2) Friday afternoon.

The no. 2 seeded Cowgirls finished the season with a 13-5-2 record, typing the program's all-time win mark. The Cowgirls won 13 games in 2018, under Head Coach Drew Fitzgerald. 

The matchup, a physical one, was neck and neck through the entirety as both teams were intent on applying pressure on the defensive end. The Cowgirls had early chances as Keely Morrow's scoring threat 95 seconds in was just saved by Makenzie Hall. In the 63rd minute, Morgan Schooley's textbook slide tackle was able to halt the run of UIW and keep the score even at 0. The Cardinals were able to find the back of the net in the 78th minute of play after a Payton Adams free kick into the box, Isabella Beletic connected on the loose ball just passed the outstretch arms of Emma Roccaforte. 

McNeese Head Coach Drew Fitzgerald:
"I thought we fought really hard, It was a tight 1-0 game, teams were even on shots, we may of had more in the second half but they put away their chances, and we didn't put away ours, it's that simple. It's a tight margin. Just really proud of the girls, the fight in the girls all year. I feel like we overcame a lot, we just didn't get it done today. UIW was a really good team to be going through, and they deserved to win, we just wish we could have got it done."

Notables:
Both teams had eight shots each. 
Emma Roccaforte, Megan Mielke, Kiana Kukaua, Morgan Schooley, and Keely Morrow played all 90 minutes. 
Rachel Young, Friesen, Morrow, and Depot accounted for the shots on net.

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