Sophomore Cami Colpitts takes a corner kick against UChicago. (Bobby Kaplan | Staff Photographer)

The No. 1 WashU women’s soccer team drew with the No. 7 University of Chicago 1-1 on Nov. 8.

Finishing out the regular season with an overall record of 16-0-2, No. 1 WashU women’s soccer ended the season as champions of the University Athletic Association (UAA) for the third consecutive year, and with that, secured a ticket to the NCAA Division III National Tournament. However, the Bears’ last game of conference play was not a walk in the park, as women’s soccer tied with Chicago — just their fourth tie in two years.

“[UChicago] is a quality team all over the field,” head Coach Jim Conlon wrote in a statement to Student Life. “We needed to be sharp in our defensive principles and our transition moments.”

The Bears conceded a penalty in the fifth minute, and Chicago converted the spot kick. As the game went on, the Maroons efficiently shut WashU out 1-0 for nearly 70 minutes — it was the longest time the Bears had trailed any team this season. Prior to this game, the longest trailing duration the Bears experienced was against Trine University in September, which is the only other team the Bears have tied this season.

With the clock winding down, the No. 1 women’s soccer team found itself at a stalemate. As each minute passed and the game developed well into the second half, it would have been easy for the Bears’ spirit to wear down. But instead, the Bears kept fighting. 

“I think our team showed great resiliency … and continued believing in each other,” Conlon wrote.

In the 75th minute, they found their chance.

With a corner administered to the Bears, junior midfielder Keira Smyser took the kick and gracefully landed a goal in the top right corner, deflecting off the Maroons’ goalie, Sophia Sasaki, and into the net. In an instant, both the crowd and the team released their held breath.

Two minutes later, WashU gained another corner kick — an opportunity to take the lead. But the Maroons were not rattled in the slightest and successfully fended off the Bears’ attack.

The match ended in a 1-1 tie, but WashU’s undefeated record remains intact.

With the regular season now in the rearview, the Bears must now look ahead to the postseason. Having already clinched a spot in the top 64, women’s soccer is excited for the tournament ahead. 

“Being in the NCAA tournament is always an honor,” Conlon wrote. “It is hard to get there — we will focus on being good at the basics.”

The No. 1 Bears will be hosting the first round of the NCAA D-III Tournament this Saturday at 11 a.m. at Francis Field against Wilmington College. With another historic run potentially on the horizon, the Bears look forward to building on their postseason wins one by one.