WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – West Liberty University forward Layne Hartnell scored a huge goal in the 83rd minute here Thursday to break up a scoreless tie and lift WLU to a crucial 1-0 victory against Fairmont State in the final home match of the season at the West Liberty Soccer Complex.
    The win pulled Coach Barry Christmas's Hilltoppers (4-8-2, 4-5-1) within a single point of the Falcons (6-5-3, 4-4-2) in the battle for second place in the MEC North Division with three matches remaining. The top two teams in each division qualify for MEC Tournament play.
    With less than 10 minutes left in regular time, WLU freshman defender Juliana Haug sent a high ball in to Hartnell. Hartnell settled the ball off her chest and then chipped a well-weighted shot that floated just over the head of Fairmont keeper Isabelle Vaccari before skimming off the bottom of the crossbar and into the net.
    The Hilltoppers had nearly broken the scoring ice in the first half when Katie Kota hit the crossbar in the 26th minute only to see the ball bounce harmlessly away.
    The Falcons' best scoring opportunity came during a flurry in front of the West Liberty goal in the 40th minute.
    Hilltopper keeper Lauren Hartnell - Layne's twin sister - came up with a big save on a shot by Abigail Fowler. The rebound went to the foot of FSU's Lake Porter but the WLU netminder saved Porter's shot, as well, to keep the game scoreless at the break.
    With time running out after the West Liberty goal, Fairmont managed one last push. Hartnell stopped a shot by Rachel Phillips in heavy traffic during the 89th minute. The Hilltoppers couldn't clear the box but WLU defenders blocked a pair of follow shots by the Falcons to preserve the win.
    Both teams were credited with 11 shots but West Liberty had a 6-5 edge in shots on goal and a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks. Lauren Hartnell finished with 5 saves to pick up her sixth clean sheet of the season. Vaccari also had 5 saves for Fairmont State.
    The Hilltoppers will look to take their success on the road Sunday when they travel to Shepherd for a 2:30 p.m. match.
    Fairmont State                                   0  0 – 0
West Liberty                                       0  1 – 1      WLU: Layne Hartnell (Juliana Haug), 82:30      Shots: Fairmont State 11, West Liberty 11
     Shots on Goal: Fairmont State 5, West Liberty 6
     Saves: Fairmont State 5 (Isabelle Vaccari 5), West Liberty 5 (Lauren Hartnell 5)
     Corners: Fairmont State 0, West Liberty 5
A: 200