Natchitoches, Louisiana – The Central Arkansas women's soccer team wrapped up the 2017 regular season on Friday night, making the trip to Natchitoches, Louisiana to take on the Northwestern State Lady Demons. Despite dominating the pace of play, the Bears found themselves on the wrong side of the decision, falling 1-0.

Central Arkansas (10-9-0, 7-4-0 SLC) and Northwestern State (6-12-0, 2-9-0 SLC) were fairly evenly matched throughout the match's first 45 minutes, with the Lady Demons outshooting the Bears five to four, but the Bears holding a four to two advantage in shots on goal. The Lady Demons would collect the game's first chance just 94 seconds in, before the Bears got shots on goal from Ashley Smith and Dayna Mounie shortly after the 15-minute mark. Smith gave the Bears their best look of the first half in the 19^th minute, beating the Northwestern State keeper, but a defender posted on the line was able to knock her attempt away for a team save. UCA keeper Anna Hughes was called upon to make another save in the 34^th minute, and Central Arkansas got a shot on goal from MaKayla Wilson in the 43^rd minute, but the teams would enter the half tied at 0-0.

After the break the Bears dominated possession, firing off 16 shots and allowing just four to the Lady Demons. Smith needed just 37 seconds to challenge Lady Demon keeper Alex Latham, and the Bears got attempts on frame from Camille Bassett and Autum Schwartz over the next 14 minutes, before a strong run saw Smith, Bassett, andAlex Moore all turned away by Latham in at five-minute span from the 63^rd minute to the 68^th. Despite the pressure that the Bears were able to put on in the second half, it would be the Lady Demons that would break the dam, as April Trowbridge played a ball through the UCA defense to Brittany Casserma, who beat the final UCA defender and fired past UCA keeper Lauren Mercuri for the game-winner in the 75^th minute. Moore would get two solid looks and Jordan Slim would add a shot on goal over the remainder of the match, but the Bears were unable to find the equalizer.

On the night, Central Arkansas put 14 of its 20 shots on goal, led by Smith, who was on target with all five of her attempts. Moore put all three of her shots on goal, and Bassett was accurate with both of her shots, while Slim, Wilson, Mounie, and Schwartz each put one shot on goal. In net, Hughes made three saves and pushed her scoreless streak to 319:58, while Mercuri made one save.

"We are disappointed with the result of the game, but not with how we played tonight," said UCA head coach Jeremy Bishop "We created so many good scoring opportunities and really limited Northwestern State. But we have to be better on the end of those scoring chances. We will have to move past it quickly, and I believe we will. We will head down to Corpus Christi for the tournament and continue to play well, and believe that the goals are going to come and it will be a great week."

The Bears, who earned the fourth seed in next week's Southland Conference Tournament, will take on fifth-seeded Houston Baptist at 5:00 PM on Wednesday. The winner will advance to a semifinal match-up with the winner of the first round match between top-seeded Lamar and eighth-seeded, and host, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The semifinal match is scheduled for 7:00 PM on Friday.