FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Women's Soccer team closed out their regular season in convincing fashion, taking down Fairmont State 5-0 in Bobcat Stadium on a chilly Wednesday night.
 
Junior Madi Allen wasted no time giving the Bobcats the lead, as inside the first three minutes, senior Lela Clark made a surging run down the right wing, then her cross into the box wasn't headed far enough away, allowing Allen to sweep home the opening goal. Over the next six minutes, sophomore Carly Gillette put her shooting boots on, getting away three shots, the first blocked, second wide, and third saved by Falcon keeper Olivia Johnston.
 
Fairmont had a glorious chance to equalize at the 13-minute mark, as a brilliant ball over top to Serenity Thomas put her one-on-one with senior keeper Ashley Bilger, but she could only find the outside of the post, keeping Frostburg in the lead. Charging out of the back and seeing limited options to pass to, junior Mei Homman tried her luck from distance, but fired too close to Johnston. Just a minute and a half later, Gillette doubled the lead, as sophomore Morgan Mrizek expertly danced around a pair of Fairmont defenders and played the dynamic midfielder through, taking one touch to control and the second to finish home for a 2-0 score.
 
The Bobcats were presented with a great chance to add a third, as Allen made a smart run in the box and was taken down, leading to a penalty. After an injury delay, Clark stepped forward, but missed high and wide on her attempt, keeping it a two-goal advantage. Junior Mackenzie Alonso looked to end the half on a high note, as she made her way into the box, speeding past the Falcon defense with only Johnston to beat, but put her effort wide of the far post as the last action of the first 45.
 
Frostburg came out hungry to add to the lead in the second half, as Allen led the line with a flurry of chances, but a combination of Johnston and some wayward finishing just about kept Fairmont in the game. Senior Hannah Thompson and junior Cat Smith both had chances to score, but Johnston stood firm as the action was all Bobcats.
 
The Falcon defense finally came undone, as Allen won yet another penalty after being brought down in the box, but saw hers also saved by Johnston. After Fairmont tried to clear, junior Carolyn DeSena put a one-time ball into the box, which curled wonderfully onto the head of Smith to head past Johnston for a 3-0 advantage.
 
Just five minutes later, Mrizek played Gillette down the right side, where she fired a fantastic ball right onto onrushing junior Keely Knotts' head, planting home another score. Frostburg wasn't done yet, as senior Dez Mortimer found herself some space in midfield, playing sophomore Hannah Clagett through the lines, with the speedy forward smartly rounded Johnston and passed into an empty net for a 5-0 score line.
 
Bilger made an easy save on a tame effort from Alejandra Puerto, then was replaced by junior Katie Sterne, who also made a comfortable catch against the Falcon sophomore, preserving the combined clean sheet. Freshman Grace Sarver looked to take her opportunity in the final 10 minutes, being played in behind for a pair of shots that were both shut down well by Johnston. Sterne made a pair of quick-fire saves in the final eight minutes, first tipping Puerto's goal-bound cross out from under the bar, then diving on the ball as Kylee Kosek tried to fire home, ending the game in a 5-0 Frostburg win.
 
The Bobcats outshot the Falcons 24-8, with 13 shots on goal to four for the visitors, as Frostburg featured five different goal scorers in the night on four assists.
 
With the win, the Bobcats improve to 15-1-2, while Fairmont falls to 7-9-2. Both teams have earned their spot in the MEC Playoffs, where Frostburg will host Glenville State on Sunday, November 5 at 2 p.m., while the Falcons travel to Charleston (WV). Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.