OWENSBORO, KY. – The Kentucky Wesleyan College women's soccer team opened the 2021 season with a 1-0 shutout victory over Great Lakes Valley Conference foe Southwest Baptist University on Thursday night. The Panthers flexed throughout the night, wearing down the Bearcats in the second half.
 
The Bearcats (0-1) were forced to play in front of their own net in the early going of the match. The Panthers (1-0) got four shots off in the first 22 minutes, two from Madisyn Hunt. Even on offense SBU was forced to operate in their own zone.
 
Each team took seven shots in the opening period and the match moved into intermission in a scoreless tie. The Bearcats were still content slow playing at the start of the second half. In the 52^nd minute Hunt, who was left of the SBU net, taped the ball loose and over the Bearcat defense to Chloe Hinchcliffe.
 
The defense was slow to get back over to Hinchcliffe who converted her first goal of the season, a shot through the top right of the Bearcats net. All of a sudden, the Bearcats brought more urgency onto the field with a plethora of substitutions.
 
Looking to control the pace, SBU was more aggressive in the final 30 minutes of the match. SBU outshot the Panthers 11-4 in that span. The Wesleyan defense aided in the shutout with timely deflections while Reegan Garrity was on point as she made eight saves in the final 30 minutes and 12 for the match to preserve the shutout win of the Panthers.
 
The Panthers will host Georgetown College on Saturday. The match at Panther Field is scheduled to start at 7:30PM CT.
 
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