CARY, NC – The William Peace University women's soccer team hosted Averett University Thursday night for their final regular season match of the season.  The Pacers had an opportunity to clinch their first conference tournament berth in program history, but the Cougars played spoiler with a 5-1 win.

WPU finishes 6-11-2 overall with a 4-8 record in the USA South, establishing new program records for wins and conference wins in a season. Thursday was also senior night for the Pacers, as head coach Keith Jenkins and the program recognized Mari Mitterling and Anna Tew.

"It's hard to be disappointed after a record setting season, but I also think we underachieved." said Jenkins. "I hate it most for our seniors, but they can hold their heads high knowing what they've helped build and how far this program has come in their time here."

Despite the crooked number put up by Averett (3-11-2, 3-8-1 USAS), it was a much more competitive match than the final score indicated. Janae Mays made it 2-1 in the 67th minute with an impressive goal, blasting it in from beyond the 18. It was her fourth of the season, one shy of the team lead.

The Pacers thought they tied it up less than a minute later when Ashley Johnson drained a free kick from long distance, but the goal was disallowed because she took it prior to the whistle. Johnson hit the crossbar with her second attempt, and the Cougars' keeper jumped in front of Amelia Melching's shot off the rebound. The Pacers took 12 shots and put eight of them on goal, while three of their other shots hit the crossbar.

WPU trailed 1-0 at the break, but Averett's Skye Gunn netted a pair of goals in the second half that did the Pacers in. Leslie Franks found Gunn in the 66th minute for a 2-0 Cougars lead, and then Gunn miraculously found the back of the net on a free kick from nearly 40 yards out in the 72nd. Johanna Ohrnberg tacked on another goal less than a minute later and the Cougars never looked back.

"We came out with the intensity we needed in the second half, but we weren't ready to play out of the gate and it cost us," Jenkins added. "Unfortunately, we'll be watching from home here on out. It's anything but the offseason for us though. There is plenty of work to be done."

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