WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- In a match that would decide the USA South West Division regular season champion, the Covenant women's soccer team fell 1-0 at Salem on Saturday afternoon.

Covenant (13-4, 11-3 USA South) will be the No. 2 seed from the West in next week's USA South Tournament. The Lady Scots will host a quarterfinal match on Saturday, Oct. 29 against the winner of No. 3 seed Piedmont and No. 6 seed Huntingdon. 

With the win, Salem (16-1-1, 12-1-1 USA South) earns its first USA South regular season title in its first year of competition in the conference. The Spirits have won 11 straight. Covenant is the only team that has defeated Salem as the Lady Scots took a 1-0 win on Sept. 17.

In another tightly played contest, Salem notched the only goal in the 27th minute as Jordan Lanier found the back of the net, assisted by Morgan Canepa, to put the host Spirits ahead 1-0. Despite holding a 13-4 edge in total shots in the half, Salem only held a 1-0 lead at halftime as the Covenant defense kept the Lady Scots in the contest.

In the second half, Covenant stifled the Salem offense and limited the Spirits to just four shots, none of which were on target. But the Lady Scots could not find the equalizer as Salem held on for the victory.

Rachel Lemay made five saves for Covenant, while Hannah Wagner made three in a matchup of the top two goalkeepers in the USA South in goals against average. 

Salem held a 17-8 shot advantage. Anna Robertson, Anna Porch and Callie Bader each took two shots for Covenant.

UP NEXT

Covenant will host a USA South Tournament quarterfinal on Saturday, Oct. 29 at Scotland Yard. Start time is slated for 3 p.m.

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