FORT MYERS, Fla. – Facing the lone challenger for the No. 1 seed in the ASUN Championship, the Central Arkansas women's soccer team fell 2-1 against Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday. Despite being shorthanded defensively in the second half, the Bears put up as good a fight as possible.
 
The loss, which is just the first conference loss this season, drops the Bears to 8-6-2 on the season and 7-1-2 in ASUN matches. With just one game left on the schedule, Central Arkansas is now two points behind the Eagles in the ASUN standings, but still in line for the double-bye to the semifinals.
 
Both teams came flying out of the gates, with each side getting a shot off in the first 60 seconds. Though neither went in, it set up what would ultimately be a high-flying match. Then, just past the ten-minute mark, Brianna Lopez scored her third goal of the season, punching one in to give Central Arkansas a 1-0 lead.
 
Anna Kerr nearly added to the lead a few minutes later, but a defender near the goal line kept it out, and all momentum was in the Bears' favor. FGCU started to turn the tide over the next ten minutes, eventually earning a penalty kick in the 26^th, which was converted. Megan Moudy had two shots on goal near the 30-minute mark, but both times, her shot was saved. With just seconds to go, Kelly Van Gundy had a shot on target, but the Eagles were able to keep it out and head into the break level at 1-1.
 
With a new goalkeeper in for the Bears, FGCU started teeing off in the second half, taking shots from anywhere and everywhere. And a ton of credit to Lenja Kenstel, who was playing for the first time since early September, she did a terrific job keeping the Eagles out, making seven saves in nearly 54 minutes of play.
 
But eventually, the ASUN's highest-scoring offense broke through in the 64^th minute. Central Arkansas, who led the shot count 8-5 at half, just couldn't find an answer. It marks the first loss for the Bears in 42 days, and the first regular season ASUN loss in over a calendar year.
 
Central Arkansas will try to get back in the win column with the final match of the season, facing North Alabama in Florence next Saturday. Kickoff against the Lions is set for 1 p.m.