KIRKSVILLE, Mo.—After winning their last four games of the regular season, the Truman women's soccer team earned the right to host their quarterfinal match of the GLVC Tournament. As the four seed, they hosted fifth seeded Bellarmine. It was a fluid game with seldom a stop in the action, but on a late goal from Natalie Teo the Knights emerged victorious 1-0.
Beth Hopwood made three saves for the Bulldogs, while Bellarmine keeper Elyssa Francis stopped efforts from Isabel Kurzban and Hanna Burke to keep Truman off the scoreboard.
In the first half Camryn Pictor challenge Hopwood in the tenth minute, but the Truman netminder was up to the challenge. Just about five minutes later Kurzban floated a free kick into the box but the outstretched arms of Francis reeled it in. Those were the only two shots on the goal in the half, at the intermission the scoreboard was as it began.
Bellarmine came out quickly in the second half as Brielle Heuglin challenged Hopwood less than two minutes into the half. But Hopwood made her second stop of the day. In the 58th minute Heavyn O'Connell tested Hopwood, but once again the Bulldog keeper stood firm. It was in the 75th minute when Isabella Zamborini took a ball down the left flank for Bellarmine and floated it into the box to the waiting head of Natalie Teo who put it into the far right corner of the net to put the Knights ahead. Truman had one final chance late as Burke worked into the box and tried to fit a shot through a congested area, but Francis covered it up to preserve the shutout.
Truman finishes the season 10-7-1 overall, 10-5 in GLVC play. Their seven home wins were the most since winning nine at home in 2016.
