Newberry, S.C. – The Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Soccer Team (12-3-2, 8-2-1) ended the regular season on a high note with a 2-1 victory over Newberry (7-10-1, 4-6-1) Saturday afternoon in a South Atlantic Conference match at Smith Road Complex.

Lenoir-Rhyne freshman midfielder Abigael McGarel (Morristown, Tenn.) scored the match-winner on a penalty kick with 12 minutes left as the Bears increased their winning streak to five contests.  The goal was McGarel's fifth of the year.

Lenoir-Rhyne freshman forward Hannah Van Eerden (Stokesdale, N.C.) opened the scoring just over five minutes after halftime after finishing off a shot from the left side.  The goal was Van Eerden's fifth of the season as well.  Lenoir-Rhyne senior forward Kendall Smith (Asheville, N.C.) was credited with the assist.

Newberry tied the contest at one at the 58:54 mark of the second half when Lindsay Huber (Selden, N.Y.) scored from 18 yards out but the lead was short-lived thanks to McGarel's heroics. 

Lenoir-Rhyne senior goalkeeper Andrea Leano (San Diego, Calif.) earned the win after making four saves while Newberry's Madison Putman (Pickering, Ontario, CANADA) suffered the loss in goal despite stopping five shots.  Both teams had 15 shots on the day.

In the latest NCAA Division II Southeast Regional rankings, Lenoir-Rhyne is sixth in the poll.

Lenoir-Rhyne is guaranteed a home match in the Quarterfinal Round of the 2016 South Atlantic Conference Women's Soccer Championship on Tuesday, November 1.  Newberry will play on the road in the quarterfinals of the league tournament. 

The Bears share the league regular season title with Tusculum and Carson-Newman and will be the No. 1 seed in the tournament.  LR has won six of the last seven SAC Regular Season Championships (2010-14, 2016).