SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Despite Rachel Thorpe’s tenth goal of the season, the King University women’s soccer team was unable to come away with a win over Conference Carolinas foe Converse College. The Valkyries were able to score in the 102nd minute to defeat the Tornado 2-1 in double-overtime.

Converse was able to dominate the overtime periods, firing six shots in the extra stanzas, all of which were on goal, while not allowing a single Tornado shot. In the game, each of the Valkyries’ 15 shots were on frame, while King placed four of its seven on target. Morgan Lawson started the match in goal and made 13 saves in the game.

King took a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute on Thorpe’s goal. Thorpe dribbled down the right side and took a shot from 10 yards away, placing the ball into the left side of the net to give the Tornado the early advantage. But Converse would strike before the end of the half. Joy Keith played a long pass to Alex Marquez, who was able to draw the keeper out and place a shot into the top of the net for the equalizer.

Both defenses took control in the second half. Each goalkeeper made three saves in the period, while the teams were only able to muster a combined seven shots. But the Valkyrie offense awakened after 90 minutes, putting immense pressure on the King back line before breaking through to score the game-winner with two minutes gone in the second overtime period.

On the game’s final play, Lawson made a diving save on a long-distance shot from Marquez. But she was unable to corral the ball, which squirted away and found the feet of Darby Boyd, who scored from 10 yards out to end the match.

Despite the loss, the Tornado are not eliminated from postseason contention and will have an opportunity to secure a postseason berth on Saturday. King hosts Mount Olive College at 1:00 p.m. on Senior Day at Parks Field, while Limestone College and Erskine College will do battle in Due West, S.C. Limestone is assured a bid to the Conference Carolinas Tournament, while the remaining three teams will fight for the event’s final bid. King will receive the tournament’s No. 8 seed, and would likely travel to face top-seeded Lees-McRae College on Monday, with a win or a tie against Mount Olive. 

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