Box Score (PDF) | SoCon Bracket 

CHARLESTON, S.C. –The Citadel women's soccer team closed out the 2016 regular season at W.L.I. Field on Sunday afternoon, falling to SoCon foe Mercer 1-0.
 
"We battled very well today against a quality Mercer side and were very close to getting a point," The Citadel head coach Ciaran Traquair said. "A slow start wasn't ideal but we gradually got into the game and became dominant. We have lacked in front of the goal all season and it showed today. I am proud of the effort. The seniors were phenomenal and showed tremendous commitment in the game. Now we go to VMI with a point to prove and hopefully a chance to prove ourselves in tournament play."
 
Mercer (9-8-1, 6-3 SoCon) scored the only goal in the match at the six minute mark after the Bears were able to squeak a shot from inside the box low past keeper Logan Leask. After the goal, both teams turned it up a notch on defense with neither squad giving an inch. Leask tallied five saves in goal while Cristina Mursuli notched seven for the Bears.
 
With under five minutes left in the game The Citadel (5-12, 1-8 SoCon) made a furious push to score but a shot by Emilie Valenciano and Caroline Cashion were both saved, denying the Bulldogs a chance to extend the game to overtime.
 
Mercer led The Citadel in shots 12-1 heading in to halftime but the Bulldogs came out firing in the second half and finished with 17 total. Valenciano led the Bulldogs with four shots while Mady Riegel, Katherine Arroyo and Tinslee Dilday all had three.
 
The Bulldogs will now head to VMI on Wednesday to begin play in the Southern Conference tournament. The first round game is set for 3 p.m. in Lexington, Virginia. For more information on The Citadel soccer, follow @CitadelWSoccer or visit CitadelSports.com.