(Daytona Beach, Fla.)- The SUNY Canton women's soccer team saw their tremendous season come to a close with a 2-0 loss to McKendree University (Ill.) on Wednesday in the opening round of the 2007 NAIA Women's Soccer Championship in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Roos, who were the 16th seed in the tournament, finish the year 16-3 while the No. 17 Bearcats improved to 14-2-2 and will play top-seeded Lee University (Tenn.) on Thursday.

Sophomore goalie Brenna Sexton (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) backstopped a solid Roos defensive effort by making a season-high 13 saves. Sexton made several point blank stops in each half to keep the score close.

SUNY Canton seemed to finally get on the scoreboard with about 10 minutes remaining in the second half when Niki Perkins (Potsdam, N.Y.) knocked in a pass from Justine Monahan (Ellington, N.Y.), but the goal was waved off due to an off sides call.

McKendree scored their first goal in the 16th minute. Sarah Ryan sent a cross pass from the right wing that was re-directed into the net by Lucy Elliott. Those two also hooked up for the Bearcats second goal in the 67th minute. Ryan sent another pass from the right wing that just got by a diving Sexton and Elliot banged the ball into the open net.

Goalie Liz Yanko did not make a save for McKendree.

SUNY Canton, who captured the Sunrise Conference and Region X Championships, went 14-1 in their last 15 games and hadn't allowed a goal prior to Wednesday since the end of September.

1st Half: MU, Elliott (Ryan), 16th.
2nd Half: MU, Elliott (Ryan), 67th.
Shots: MU-28. CA-5.
Goalies: MU, Yanko (0 saves). CA, Sexton (13 saves).
Records: MU (14-2-2). CA (16-3).

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