ST. LOUIS – A championship season and trip to the NCAA tournament ended Saturday for Maryville in a 2-0 defeat at the hands of No. 2-ranked Washington U.
 
The Scots allowed a pair of goals in the first 22 minutes and then held firm against a Bears squad that has outscored its opponents 50-2 this season. Maryville's score line shows a 76-15 goals advantage, but the visitors never could crack the Washington defense.
 
Maryville's best chance came on an 81st minute penalty kick, taken by Delaney Muldoon. But Washington's Sidney Connor made the save and the Bears held on from there.

"We were very defensive in the first half purposely," Scots head coach Pepe Fernandez said. "But we played our way into the game in the second half and had some good opportunities and good moments. We lost to a very good team, but our team played with courage and battled so hard."
 
Washington got on the board first on an Ella Koleno goal assisted by Kaci Karl in the 14th minute. It was a sudden defensive turnover and Karl found Koleno in front of the net for the easy poke past Maryville keeper Sophie Turner. The goal was Koleno's fifth of the season.
 
The Bears doubled their lead in the 22nd minute when Gaelen Clayton scored from 10 yards out after a nice pass from Jessica Greven. Clayton's goal was her seventh of the season.
 
Maryville fired one other shot on net in the match and that came from Madison McDonald in the 78th minute, forcing a Connor save. Shots favored Washington 16-2, as did corner kicks 4-1. Ball possession favored the Bears by 66 percent to 34 percent.
 
Maryville's Turner made three saves but saw her record finish at 11-3-3. Connor improved to 12-1-2.

"I could not be prouder of this group," Fernandez said. "They proved themselves very deserving, sweeping the conference regular season and tournament. They were fantastic teammates and friends. Our definition of winning is great relationships and giving it your all. They did that all season and they did that tonight."
 
The Scots finish their season at 15-4-3, while Washington improves to 15-1-2. The Bears play in Sunday's second round against Sewanee, which defeated Hanover 2-0 in Saturday's other first round match.