The Lady Toppers’ standout season came to a close Wednesday night as the UAB Blazers shut out WKU 1-0 in the quarterfinals of the Conference USA tournament.

The lone goal of the match was scored by UAB senior forward Lexxe Lipsey in the 27th minute of play. Lipsey launched the ball into the top right of the net to notch the game-winner.

The Lady Toppers took a quick charge down the field in an attempt to score to begin the second half. Graduate defender Mackenzie Crittenberger and junior midfielder Sydney Ernst both took shots in the 48th minute but neither were successful in finding an equalizer.

Later on, midfielder Brina Micheels took two shots and WKU was awarded two corner kicks but nothing could get past the UAB defense.

The Blazers’ defense held off the Lady Toppers for the duration of the match to end WKU’s season and punch UAB’s ticket to the semifinals to face Southern Miss.

The Lady Toppers recorded 21 goals this season while surrendering just 13 goals to opponents. The program got off to its best-ever start, establishing itself with a 5-0-0 run to begin the year, and its 10-5-1 record marks the 14th time the Lady Toppers have recorded a 10-win season. WKU was nearly perfect in sudden-death situations as well, winning four of its five overtime matches.

Junior forward Katie Erwin led the way for the Lady Toppers’ offense, finding the back of the net four times and assisting on an additional four goals, finishing off the season with 12 points. 

Graduate defender Avery Jacobsen also assisted Erwin in leading the offense as she finished just below her with 11 points on the season. Jacobsen scored four times and contributed three assists.

Graduate goalkeeper Alexis Bach was a major component to the team’s success this fall as she recorded 58 saves on the season. Bach finished the campaign ranked third in the conference in both saves and goals-against average.

The Lady Toppers will bid farewell to five members of their roster – Avery Jacobsen, Chelsea Moore, Isidora Pekez, Sophia Fondren and Mackenzie Crittenberger – as the group will leave the Hill due to graduation or the end of NCAA eligibility. 

Despite their early exit in the conference tournament, the Lady Toppers still put together a season to remember.

Soccer reporter Drew Toennies can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @drew_toennies.