CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Mackenzie Gillispie finished off a feed from Ari Christiansen in the 83rd minute to help give Fairmont State a 1-0 win over Charleston on Monday night in the quarterfinal round of the 2021 Mountain East Conference Women's Soccer Tournament.
 
Christiansen got free behind the Charleston defense on a counter attack, and then fed the ball back to the middle where Gillisipe took a touch and finished just past the keeper for the game-winning score.
 
With the win, Fairmont State improves to 5-0-4 on the season. The Falcons will now prepare for a matchup against top-seeded Concord (7-1-0) on Thursday afternoon at the YMCA Paul Cline Complex in Beckley, W.Va. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.
 
Charleston ended the season with a 5-2-2 record. Concord's only loss of the season came against Charleston back on March 5 – a 4-0 Golden Eagle victory.
 
Monday's goal was the first of the season for Gillispie, who led the Falcons in goals (7) and points (18) during the 2019 season. Christiansen's assist was her third of the 2021 spring women's soccer season.

UC nearly found the equalizer just minutes later, but Fairmont State's Taylor Kennedy made back-to-back saves on quality opportunities to keep the shutout, the sixth of the season and 18^th of Kennedy's two-year Fairmont State career.
 
Monday's matchup was a defensive battle with just nine total shots on goal during the 90 minutes of action. UC held a 6-3 edge in shots on goal in the game, with Kennedy recording six saves in the Fairmont State goal – five of which came in the second half. UC also held a 7-3 advantage in corner kicks.
 
All three of Fairmont State's shot attempts were by Gillispie on Monday evening.