OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Kimberlin Bennett scored late in the match, but the Rogers State women's soccer team could not rally past Oklahoma Christian on the road Saturday at Eagles Soccer Field.
 
Taylor Geissler took over the offensive charge for the Hillcats down the stretch, posting a team-high six shots, and Bennett tallied her tema-leading third goal of the season with 5:24 remaining to get RSU within a goal after the Eagles struck for a pair of second-half goals.
 
Following a scoreless first half, OC broke the tie in the 49th minute when Areli Bermudez scored on a header off a Madeline Roseke corner kick for a 1-0 advantage. The Eagles' lead doubled less than 10 minutes later as Rubi Villegas scored her team-leading seventh goal of the season at the 57:03 mark.
 
Facing a quick two-goal deficit, the Hillcats turned up the pressure looking to get back into the match in the late stages. Bennett came within inches of cutting into the lead in the 60th minute as her shot rang off the post.
 
With 10 minutes to play in regulation, Geissler fired off three shots in a span of 70 seconds for the navy and red, before Bennett broke through in the 85th minute. The Hillcats put up 12 shots in the final 30 minutes of action. Bennett collected a cross from Taylor Williams and ripped a shot from inside the box past OC's goalkeeper Carina Schanz for her first goal of the season.
 
The Eagles held off the final rally by the Hillcats securing the Heartland Conference victory, 2-1. Tayler Stover made nine saves in goal for RSU and suffered the loss, while Schanz picked up the win for OC making six saves.
 
The Hillcats (1-15 overall, 1-6 HC) close the 2015 season with Senior Night at Soldier Field Oct. 29 playing host to Newman. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. and can be viewed live on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.