FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Women's Soccer team battled their way to a 1-0 win over Glenville State in the quarterfinals of the MEC Tournament.
 
FSU controlled the opening minutes of the game, with junior Madi Allen having a shot saved in the opening five minutes, followed by sophomore Morgan Mrizek seeing her shot blocked and senior Lela Clark forcing another save from Pioneer keeper Mikayla Brown.
 
After winning a corner kick just over 12 minutes in, junior Cat Smith met the ball at the back post, heading into the top of the net for a 1-0 Frostburg lead. Smith had another chance to score a minute later but could only put her effort wide following another corner. Knotts fired from outside the box but was too close to Brown as the Bobcats continued to see regular chances.
 
The Pioneers got their first shot of the game away just over 25 minutes in, as senior Ashley Bilger was able to see the ball go just wide of her post. In the final 15 minutes, senior
Toni Fiocco-Mizer put one effort wide and had another saved by Brown, with Smith also testing the GSU keeper and senior Dez Mortimer firing left of goal, as the sides went into the half at 1-0.
 
Junior Mei Homman tried her luck from distance but was gathered by Brown in the opening seconds of the second half. Bilger then made a great reaction save to deny Merel Smets, diving to her left to keep out the near-post effort. Sophomore Mary Greco and Knotts had shots 30 seconds apart, but both missed their marks, as the game became a back-and-forth affair. Bilger collected another shot off the boot of Hannah Hill, then Allen had her effort charged down at the edge of the 18.
 
Fiocco-Mizer made her way into the box with just over 17 minutes remaining and rode a challenge from her defender, but couldn't lift the ball over the onrushing Brown, keeping it a one-goal game. As Glenville tried to throw bodies forward in search of an equalizer, the Bobcat defense stood tall, limiting the visitors to just one shot off target the rest of the way. As GSU tried to play a final pass forward, Smith watched it over the end line, as the final buzzer sounded for a 1-0 FSU shutout win.
 
The Bobcats had 16 shots to the Pioneers' six, including an 8-2 advantage in shots on goal.
 
With the win, Frostburg improves to 16-1-2, while Glenville ends their season at 5-11-3. FSU advances to the semifinals on Wednesday, November 8 where they will take on the No. 2 seed from the South in Concord. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.