Charleston, S.C. – Western Carolina broke a scoreless tie late in the first half and went on to a 4-0 victory over The Citadel in a Southern Conference women's soccer contest Sunday at WLI Field.

The loss ends The Citadel's hopes for a berth in the conference playoffs. The Bulldogs (5-10-2, 3-7 SoCon) have nine points on the strength of their three league wins, but eight teams have already reached the 10-point mark. The game against Western was the final SoCon contest of the season for The Citadel.

The Catamounts (9-8-1, 3-6) kept their playoffs hopes alive and will earn a spot with a win over Appalachian State on Wednesday. Western can also make the tournament with a tie and Davidson win over Georgia Southern.

Neither team could dent the scoreboard until Western's Kayla Sedgley slipped through the defense and put the ball past Bulldog goalkeeper Sam Millspaugh in the 41st minute to give the Catamounts what turned out to be the game-winning goal.

Millspaugh was making her first appearance of the season in relief of regular starter Naomi Carter, who was out with an injury. Millspaugh faced 22 shots and made seven saves.

Markie Studnicky scored the first of her two goals just 57 seconds into the second half when her shot hit the crossbar and landed just over the line. Kelly Pannell made it 3-0 in the 60th minute with her team-leading eighth goal of the year, and Studnicky scored again in the 63rd minute, her fifth of the season.

Carly Tinstman earned the shutout for the Catamounts and was credited with six saves among The Citadel's 14 shots. Western also had five corner kicks to one for the Bulldogs.

The Citadel wraps up its season on Wednesday with a non-conference game against Francis Marion at WLI Field beginning at 2 p.m.