All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

Prater’s golden goal gives Lady Cats OT win

WVWC Womens Soccer
Natalie Prater scored her sixth game-winning goal of the season at Fairmont State on Wednesday. (File photo)

BUCKHANNON – The West Virginia Wesleyan College women’s soccer team won an overtime thriller 1-0 at Fairmont State on Wednesday to leave little doubt who the Mountain East’s top seed is heading into next week’s conference tournament.

The Lady Bobcats had already clinched to number one spot in the south division and a first-round bye when they traveled to Fairmont to play one of the north’s tournament-bound squads. The game was tight throughout, and the Falcons nearly took the lead late on a goal that was disallowed for goalie interference.

Senior Natalie Prater notched the golden goal in the second overtime – her sixth game-winning goal of the year – as the LBC extended their unbeaten streak to 14 games. The vaunted Wesleyan defense has allowed just three goals all year.

But this season the Lady Bobcats are also converting at the other end of the field and have scored a whopping 47 goals (although 20 of those came against upstart Glenville State). Nationally, they have the 10th-ranked scoring offense at 3.21 goals per game and are second defensively in goals-against average at just .205.

Wesleyan will conclude the regular season at home on Sunday when they host Shepherd University for a 3:30 p.m. game. They’ll then await the winner of the West Liberty/Fairmont State game in the MEC tournament semifinals.

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