CULLOWHEE, N.C. --- The Chattanooga women's soccer team closed out the regular season in dramatic fashion Sunday afternoon, earning a 1-0 road victory over second-ranked Western Carolina at the Catamount Soccer Complex.
 
With the win, Chattanooga (10-4-4, 4-2-3 SoCon) secured fourth place in the Southern Conference standings and enters the postseason with momentum after toppling one of the league's top contenders.
 
Senior Caroline Richvalsky delivered the game-winner in the 66th minute, notching her ninth goal of the season and her second game-winner. Sophomore EG Dillard fed the ball into the box from the right side where the Catamount defense got a toe on it but couldn't make the stop. Richvalsky took advantage of the lapse and fired the shot home the game winner from just outside the top right corner of the six-yard box.
 
Richvalsky had a game-high five shots, including four on goal, and proved to be a constant threat in the attacking third. The Mocs outshot the Catamounts 14-7 and held a 6-2 edge in shots on goal. Chattanooga also earned six corner kicks to Western Carolina's three.
 
Defensively, Caroline Ekern tied the single season record with her seventh shutout this year, making two key saves in the second half to preserve the lead. The Mocs' back line, anchored by Reese Wilson, Sophia Mize, and Brenna Swiger, held firm against a late push from the Catamounts.
 
Chattanooga will take on fifth-seeded Furman Friday in Birmingham, Ala., at regular season champion Samford. The Mocs and Paladins battled to a 1-1 draw in Chattanooga earlier this season.
 
HEAD COACH GAVIN McKINNEY
"Really solid team performance today – proud of the group. Our structure was strong from start to finish and Richie took her goal really well. Excited to carry this momentum into this tournament."
 
NOTES
• The Mocs are 10-4-4 overall, 4-2-3 SoCon … 10 wins ties for second-most in program history and the fifth time UTC has hit double-digit wins … four SoCon wins is tied for seventh in program history.
• UTC has 36 goals, tied for most in the SoCon with Furman and Samford.
• Chattanooga finished fourth in the SoCon standings and will take on #5 Furman Friday in Birmingham, Ala. [Samford].
• Caroline Richvalsky scored her ninth goal of the season, tied for sixth on the Mocs' single season list.
• Caroline Ekern improved her wins total to 33 and her shutout mark to 21, both program records. She also tied the Mocs single season shutout mark with her seventh of the season.
• Caroline Richvalsky has 71 career points (4^th), 26 career goals (4^th).
• The Mocs fired off 14 shots, six in the first and eight in the second, outshooting the Catamounts 14-7.
• Chattanooga had six corners to the Catamounts three. UTC had three in each half and the Cats all came in the second.
 
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