Held to zero quality scoring chances in the first half, it appeared as though the Washington University women’s soccer team could only hope for a scoreless draw against the University of Chicago on Saturday at Francis Field.

But sophomore forward Katie Chandler maneuvered past two defenders and buried a shot from 25 yards out into the left corner of the net in the 48th minute to potentially salvage the team’s postseason aspirations.

Mary Richardson | Student Life

Junior Abby Starker kicks the ball in the No. 17 Bears’ game against No. 11 University of Chicago. The Bears won 1-0 to stop a two-game losing streak and finish the regular season with a victory.

The No. 17 Bears held on to defeat the No. 11 Maroons by a score of 1-0 to finish their regular season with a 13-3-2 overall record and a 3-3-1 in the University Athletic Association.

“It was a big sigh of relief. We kept pressing and to get [the goal] early in the half was helpful…We were able to sit back and play our style of game for the rest of the second half and try to push out and keep the win,” Chandler said.

UChicago had its way in the first half, though, and would have taken the lead if not for a few key saves by junior goalkeeper Amy French, in her first start of the season after inuring her wrist in preseason training. In the 14th minute, French deflected a shot directed toward the top of the goal and sent it over the crossbar. French also made a critical save in the 27th minute when she pushed away a powerful shot that bounced off the left goalpost.

The Bears didn’t register their first shot of the game until the 34th minute, and they were outshot 10-1 in the first half. French made four saves to keep the game scoreless after the first 45 minutes of play.

With a 20-mph wind at their backs, the Red and Green were able to open up the field and create more scoring opportunities in the second half. The increased pressure resulted in Chandler’s goal just three minutes into the second half.

Senior forward Lillie Toaspern recorded her team-leading 11th assist, while Chandler scored for the third time in the last two games to tie for the team lead with nine goals.

Chandler attributed her recent torrid stretch of play to the extra motivation provided by the team’s seniors.

“I’m doing it for our seniors. They’ve led us through the season and they give their all every single game, so they are a role model for me,” Chandler said. “I see them working so hard every game that I want to do the same for them, and scoring a goal is a little gift that helps the team go on and hopefully allows us to make the tournament.”

Mary Richardson | Student Life

Junior goalkeeper Amy French catches a ball in the Bears' game against the University of Chicago on Saturday. In her first start of the season, French pitched a shutout as Wash. U. won 1-0 on a goal by Katie Chandler.

The Maroons nearly rallied in the 70th minute with a high shot on goal, but French reached out with her right hand and sent the ball over the crossbar to thwart the scoring opportunity.

French, who was the starting goalkeeper last season, made six total saves in to preserve the victory. Last season, she set the school’s single-season record with 11 shutouts, and Saturday marked her first of 2014.

“Amy is a great player. She had a fantastic 2013 season for us. Unfortunately, she had that injury early in the season, but we called on her today and she rose to the occasion,” head coach Jim Conlon said.

As the Bears await their postseason fate, Conlon was pleased that the team snapped its two-game losing streak and ended the regular season with a victory.

“Chicago is a great team, and we needed to come out here and run a game plan and win,” Conlon said. “We did, and hopefully the committee thinks our body of work is good enough to get into the [NCAA Tournament].”

While the Bears will likely make the postseason, the team won’t know for sure until the selections are released at 12 p.m. on Monday. If the Red and Green make the tournament field, they will play in the first round next wekeend.