WKU women's soccer will play for a Conference USA tournament title for the first time in program history on Friday, Nov. 13. The No. 2-seeded Hilltoppers face No. 1 seed Liberty at 11 a.m. Central (noon Eastern) at Stuart & Suzanne Grant Stadium in Newark, Del., as WNKY and WBKO reported.
What's at Stake
The winner takes the conference tournament championship. WKU got there Tuesday with a 2-1 come-from-behind win over No. 3 seed and host Delaware, WBKO reported. Delaware scored first. Makenna Egan tied the game with a header in the 31st minute and then won it with about 10 minutes left, finishing a cross from Mya Jackson into the bottom-right corner, according to WNKY. WBKO said it was Egan's third two-goal game of the season. WKU outshot the Blue Hens 16-6, both stations reported.
Jackson has been the spark this week. Her 78th-minute goal beat Kennesaw State 1-0 in Sunday's quarterfinal, per WKU Athletics. WNKY reported she has had a goal or an assist in each of WKU's last four matches.
Liberty took the harder road in its semifinal. The Flames drew 1-1 with No. 5 New Mexico State and advanced 4-3 on penalty kicks, per Liberty Athletics. That sends Liberty to its fourth straight Conference USA title game. Liberty entered the tournament as the defending champion, the school's athletics site noted.
The teams have already met once this season. Liberty won 1-0 on Sept. 26 in Lynchburg, Va., WBKO reported, in what the WKU Herald noted was WKU's Conference USA opener. Liberty scored with about 13 minutes left, and both outlets said it was WKU's first loss of the season. Hilltopper goalkeeper Mia Riddick tied her career high with seven saves that day, WBKO reported.
The Season So Far
- WKU is 13-1-6, per WNKY. The Sept. 26 loss to Liberty is still the Hilltoppers' only defeat of the season.
- WNKY reported that the 13 wins are tied for fifth-most in program history and are the most since WKU joined Conference USA in 2014.
- WKU clinched the No. 2 seed at the end of the regular season, per WKU Athletics.
- Liberty is 15-2-3, per Liberty Athletics.
Next Up
- Who: No. 2 WKU vs. No. 1 Liberty, Conference USA Women's Soccer Championship final
- When: Friday, Nov. 13, 11 a.m. CT
- Where: Stuart & Suzanne Grant Stadium, Newark, Del.
- How to watch: Broadcast and streaming details had not been confirmed when this story was published. Check the team site at wkusports.com.
Sources
- WNKY: Hilltoppers Advance to CUSA Championship with Victory Over Delaware: semifinal scoring, WKU's record, program notes and the championship start time
- WBKO: WKU soccer advances to first CUSA championship match: semifinal result, venue and the championship date
- WKU Athletics: Hilltoppers Advance to CUSA Championship with Victory Over Delaware: the official recap
- WKU Athletics: Jackson's Goal Secures WKU Victory Over Kennesaw State in CUSA Quarterfinals: quarterfinal recap
- WKU Athletics: WKU Clinches No. 2 Seed in CUSA Tournament: tournament seeding
- Liberty Athletics: Liberty Advances in Penalties 1-1 (4-3), Reaches Fourth Straight CUSA Title Game: Liberty's semifinal and record
- New Mexico State Athletics: Aggies Battle to Finish, Fall to Flames in PK's: the 1-1 draw and 4-3 shootout
- Liberty Athletics: No. 1 Seed Liberty Aims to Defend CUSA Title in Delaware: Liberty's seed and defending-champion status
- WBKO: WKU Soccer drops first match of season at Liberty: the regular-season meeting, including Riddick's saves
- WKU Herald: WKU Soccer falls in conference opener against Liberty: the regular-season meeting and its status as WKU's conference opener
