BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University women's soccer team started strong but an early second half spark from Converse College caught the Tornado off guard. Smith delivered the lonesome goal for King early in the game but it would not be enough. 

After going scoreless against Carson-Newman on Wednesday, King was looking for a much need offensive showing, more so, a win.

In the fourth minute, Miranda Smith put the Tornado up 1-0, her sixth goal of the season. Rachel Thorpe carried the ball down the middle of the field and delivered it to Catherine Walsh. From there, Walsh passed the ball across the box to Smith where she ripped a shot off the keeper's hands into the back of the net.

The shots did not stop there for King (4-2, 1-1 CC) as they tallied 14 shots in the first half. However, Converse was able to tally 11. In the 16th and 17th minutes, King had two chances but Converse keeper Joscelyn Wallace kept them both out of the net.

The Tornado continued to hit shots at the net, but nothing would result in a goal. The game went to half time with King leading 1-0.

Converse (5-1, 2-0 CC) came out strong to start the second half and put a shot past Nicole Dagher, a short three minutes in. Avery Bechthold dribbled the ball down the middle of the field and hit a shot high up on the frame. Dagher tried to tip it over the crossbar; however, it hit the crossbar and dropped straight down just past the goal line.

A minute later, the Valkyries had a breakaway and the attacker was fouled in the box resulting in a penalty kick. Natalie Johnson lined up to take the kick and drilled it past Dagher to make the score 2-1.

From that moment on, the game got physical. King continued to push for a goal, tallying nine shots in the second half, four of which resulted on target.

The final whistle blew and the Tornado was defeated by Converse to put their overall record at 4-2, 1-1 in Conference Carolinas. Both King and Converse tallied 23 shots, eight on net for the Tornado and 11 on net for the Valkyries. King posted nine corner kicks and held Converse to three.

King will travel to Tusculum College on Monday before returning back home against Conference Carolinas opponent Belmont Abbey College on September 30.

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