CLINTON, S.C. – Looking to play spoiler and disrupt the chances of postseason admission for their Big South adversary, the Presbyterian College women's soccer team wound down the 2023 calendar with a 1-1 tie in a head-to-head affair against Longwood on Wednesday evening.

By virtue of the non-win, the Lancers were denied a shot at the conference tournament while the four successful bids came in the direction of Radford, USC Upstate, Charleston Southern, and High Point.

Competing in their 30^th home match of a tumultuous tenure in Clinton, Presby's quintet of seniors (Mackenzie Azuero, Caitlin Murphy, Mia Prieto, Reyna Coston, and Kali Zmistowski) finished their playing careers with a highly-spirited effort against an increasingly-desperate squad whose quest for a tourney ticket was sent back by a virtuous PC defense.

Wednesday's Martin Stadium curtain call was the last meeting of head coach Brian Purcell's 35^th season as the program's man-in-charge, the only HC in Presbyterian's history. His crew closes 2023 with a record of 3-10-3 beside a Big South resume of 2-4-2.
 
FINAL SCORE: Presbyterian, 1 – Longwood, 1
RECORDS: Presbyterian (3-10-3, 2-4-2) – Longwood (5-7-5, 3-2-3)
LOCATION: Edens Field at Martin Stadium (Clinton, S.C.)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
- Although the Blue Hose conceded a Lancer goal at 75:03 on the board, the blue and garnet back line was largely efficient in the even tally along with another superb showing from junior keeper Kelly Hall. Putting up 19 combined saves in consecutive duals last week versus CSU and Upstate, the Georgian registered six more in the midweeker, all of which happened in the final 45 minutes.

- The second half may have zoned in on PC's preventative play, although the first period was much more relaxed thanks to a 17^th-minute score by Lina-Marie Müller, one of the best sophomores in the division.

- Coston carved up the perfect avenue for Müller to beat her defender one-on-one and pinball through Longwood goalie Mary Kate Levush, the third goal of the campaign for the international prospect and 12^th point of the fall (tops on the roster).

- Things may have looked a little bleaker over the final frame had it not been for Hall's expertise in the box, pawing back-to-back Lancer attempts within five seconds of each other in the second chapter's opening moments.

- She'd go on to halt four others, including Longwood's last on-target try at the 87:43 stamp, wrapping up her third season with 73 saves in over 1,200 minutes of action.

- PC scrambled to a corner kick chance with just 33 seconds left on the clock, and although the formation wouldn't lead to a cash-in, they'd nonetheless hold their foe to one goal or fewer for the eighth occasion on the semester.

- The Blue Hose will now make the transition into the offseason, graduating five but poised to return approximately eight starters and many key contributors for the 2024 unit next August.