Box Score

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- The SBU Bearcats capped off a roller-coaster season with a strong performance, defeating Northwest Missouri State, 2-1. After starting off the year 4-0-1, losing two starting forwards to injury, fighting through a five-game losing streak, and coming back late against the then-conference leaders to force a draw, SBU showed what fans can look forward to in 2010. 

Six Bearcat seniors were recognized before the match: forwards Shannon Roher and Ashley Wilson, midfielders Heidi Lewis and Rochelle Fowler, and defenders Caitlin Tull and Vanessa Roher.

SBU jumped out to take command of the match early, taking the first five shots of the game, and controlling possession at midfield. Playing with a strong wind to their backs, the purple Bearcats outshot Northwest Missouri, 12-1 in the first half, and earned three corner kicks to Northwest's one.

SBU kept the pressure on coming out of halftime, and continued to attack the Northwest defense. In the 51st minute, SBU earned a penalty kick after Nycole Henderson was tripped in the box. Kelly Isaac, who connected on SBU's lone penalty kick earlier this season, struck again to give the purple 'Cats a 1-0 lead. SBU did not let up, and followed through with three more shots, and a chance at one more that was called offside. In the 58th minute, the 'Cats struck again after Nycole Henderson's shot deflected off a defender for an own goal to give SBU a 2-0 lead.

Northwest worked to gain some control and mount a comeback in the final 30 minutes, when a goal came from the unlikeliest source. In the 88th minute, after an SBU foul from about 40 yards out, Northwest keeper Kira Lazenby came out past midfield to take the direct kick. Instead of setting up a shot for a teammate, however, Lazenby's kick got by the SBU keeper and bounced in for a goal to put the green Bearcats back in the game at 2-1. The SBU defense would hold steady for the final minutes, however, and the attempt at a comeback would fall short.

SBU finished the 2009 season on a two-game unbeaten streak, and their final record improves to 7-9-3, including 5-9-2 in the MIAA. Northwest ends their season at 11-8-1 overall and 7-8-1 in conference play.