The Case Western Reserve University women’s soccer team dropped two tough losses this weekend against top 25 competition. The Spartans started off the weekend with a heartbreaking 1-0 loss at the dearth to No. 4 Carnegie Mellon and ended the UAA doubleheader weekend with a 3-0 loss to No. 21 Emory. The results drops the Spartans record to 8-6-3 on the season and 1-4-1 in conference which effectively ends the Spartans chance for a postseason tournament bid.

In Friday’s match, the Spartans hung with the talented Tartans squad the entire game, spearheaded by a tough defense and phenomenal game from senior goalkeeper Abbey Smith. The Tartans outshot the Spartans 20-5 on the day but Smith had a career high 10 saves on the match, turning CMU’s chances again and again. A particular spectacular play was in the 70th minute when Smith saved a shot on a breakaway from a CMU forward.

However, the Tartans were finally able to break through with eight seconds remaining in the game. The Tartans were able to cross the ball across the box and Savina Reid was able to head the ball into the back of the net. With the last second score, the Spartans’ hope for a postseason berth were dashed for the season.

However dismayed the Spartans were with the result, they had to turn their attention to a game Sunday against No. 24 ranked Emory Eagles. This match was the Spartans fourth top-25 ranked opponent in five matches. The Spartans were exhausted mentally and physically from the emotional night against Tartans but were able to muster the energy to battle against the Eagles.

The Eagles would score partly through the first half. In the 15th minute, Emory forward Emily Feldman was able to break the deadlock when she a received a pass and rocketed a shot, which ricocheted off the post and into the back of the net for the first goal of the game.

After the first goal, the Spartans were able to settle down for a bit and try to play the out of the pressure. Whenever the ball was cleared out of pressure from the backline, the Spartans were often outnumbered in the attack.

Without any outlet, the Spartans often loss the ball which allowed the opposition to regroup and resume attacking the belabored CWRU defense.

In the 45th minute, Feldman would play the provider, feeding Cristina Ramirez in for the second goal of the match. The Spartans went into halftime down by two goals for the first time this season. However, the Spartans would also play a much better second half and had a chance to cut the lead in half after senior Jessie Sabers earned a penalty kick in the 72nd minute. Emory goalie guessed correctly and blocked the attempt from Sabers. Unfortunately, the Spartans never seriously threatened again for the remainder of the game. The Spartans gave up another tough goal in the 90th minute after Ramirez snuck behind the backline on a long ball and flicked it over the onrushing Smith.

The Spartans look to finish off their season strong and build off this year’s momentum. They finish off their season this Saturday Nov. 8 at Rochester. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.