Hickory, N.C.-- For the second straight season, the Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Soccer team will face Columbus State in the NCAA Second Round. However, this time the Bears will have the home field advantage. Last season, the host Cougars used an 80th minute goal from Lauren Barnes to advance and end the Bears season. That loss on November 13, 2022 was the Bears last loss as the Bears look for revenge on Sunday afternoon from Moretz Sports Athletic Campus. 

The Cougars went on to the Final Four last season after defeating the Bears and are 15-4-1 this season to earn the No. 4 seed in the Southeast Regional. The Cougars defeated Flager 2-1 yesterday to advance to Sunday's second round. Columbus State beat Flager twice in their last three games, sandwiched around a victory over North Georgia in the Peach Belt Tournament Championship game. 

The Bears defeated Carson-Newman 4-1 on Friday night for their second straight win over the Eagles in their last three games as the Bears also defeated Catawba in the SAC Tournament Championship game in PK's last Sunday. Both of these teams are 3-0 against NCAA Tournament teams in the last ten days as Sunday someone will move on to the Regional Final while the others season will be over.

Speaking of Regional Final,  with a win LR will be looking for their third Regional Final appearance in program history. The Bears went to the Regional Final in 2010 and 2021. 

The two teams that are 362 miles apart will be facing off for the 5th time in the NCAA Tournament. The Bears defeated Columbus State in the 2010 run to the Elite 8 and then the next year here in Hickory the two teams tied but the Bears moved on in PK's. The Cougars did get the Bears in the Second Round in the 2014 Tournament and last year as mentioned. 

All five games have been one goal games with four of the five 1-0 contests and the fifth games was a scoreless tie but on expect more goals as we have two of the best offenses in all of Division II. The Cougars come into the game 7th in the country and the Bears just six spots below them in 13th place. 

The game will come down between what goalkeeper makes the key save as the Bears had S.A. Phillips in goal on Friday as Phillips made five saves against the Eagles while Lizzie Hedrick made six saves against Flager to help the Cougars advance. 

Either way, this will be the Bears last home game of the season as its the South Region's turn to host the Regional Final starting on December 1st. LR will look for one more win here in Hickory and keep their unbeaten streak alive and advantage last season lost to the Cougars. Kick-off from Moretz Sports Athletic Campus is at 2:00 PM on Sunday.