Bowling Green, Ky. — The Western Kentucky University women’s soccer team continued its spring exhibition season on Saturday with games against Belmont and Lindsey Wilson.

In the first match, The Lady Toppers broke a scoreless game with two goals in the final three minutes of play to outlast Belmont 2-0. With just over two minutes remaining, freshman Danielle Hogue collected a ball on the right flank and found sophomore Kellie Walker, who turned and slid a ball behind the defense to freshman Amanda Buechel. Buechel collected the ball and finished for the Lady Topper’s first goal of the day. With just a few ticks left on the clock, Walker found Hogue again on the right flank. The wind caught Hogue’s cross, and it sailed over the goalkeeper’s head to seal the 2-0 victory.

“We did a very nice job possessing the soccer ball, particularly in the first half,” said Lady Topper Coach Jason Neidell. “Coach Howe’s Belmont team is known for having a very stingy defense. They are well-organized and very difficult to break down. I was proud of our team’s patience in the attack, although I thought we were a little too patient at times. It was good to see our efforts finally pay off in the closing minutes.”

The Lady Toppers were not as fortunate in the second game of the day. With less than three hours rest between games, the Lady Toppers were back in action against Lindsey Wilson, the 2006 NAIA National Champions and a 2007 NAIA National Semi-Finalist. The Lady Toppers responded to an early Lindsey Wilson goal with a goal of its own in the 9th minute. Sophomore Nikki Workman’s corner kick found sophomore teammate Morgan Thomas. Thomas redirected the ball to Ke. Walker, who added a goal to the two assists she collected in the early game. The two teams battled back and forth for the remainder of the first half but neither was able to convert. Lindsey Wilson broke the 1-1 halftime tie with two second half goals. The Lady Toppers were unable to respond, and the game ended 3-1.

“With this being our second game of the day, we really wanted to challenge our kids to compete and respond while fatigued,” expressed Neidell. “While we were looking for the right ideas, I didn’t think we were particularly sharp either mentally or physically. We are definitely going to have to learn to be tougher as a group than what we showed today. That being said, Lindsey Wilson is a very good team, certainly one of the best soccer-playing teams that we face – spring or fall. They play smart soccer and certainly deserved the win, and I think this kind of competition will only help us learn and grow.”

The Lady Toppers are 3-1-1 in spring competition and will conclude the exhibition slate on Sunday, April 20 in Cullowhee, North Carolina with games against Western Carolina and Carson Newman.