MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The Montevallo women's soccer team finished the 2022 campaign with a tight 3-2 loss to the Lee Lady Flames on Oct. 30 in the quarterfinals of the Gulf South Conference Tournament.
 
Despite the late season heartbreak, Montevallo notched the highest win percentage in program-history at .750 with an overall record of 12-3-3 with an 8-2-3 mark in conference play.
 
The Falcons opened the season on with a win over then ranked No. 18 Florida Tech. Montevallo's early success continued with a historic 5-0 start with wins over Clayton State, and Young Harris before allowing the first goal of the season in a 2-1 win over Delta State in the first GSC matchup of the season. Following a loss on the road at Mississippi College, the team rattled off four conference wins in a row before taking just its second loss of the season at West Florida. The Falcons struggled to find solid footing after the loss to UWF with two-consecutive ties coming on Varsity Field before the much anticipate matchup with Lee on Oct. 14. Montevallo took the fight to the then ranked No. 18 Lady Flames and eventually would come away with the 2-1 victory to move to 10-2-2 on the season. UM took care of Shorter in a record 10-0 win before easily topping Valdosta State to head into the final regular season game with a chance to host the first round of the conference tournament. Kaeri Ward's late-game heroics against West Georgia secured the No. 4 seed and a home playoff game with a penalty kick goal in the 89^th minute to give the Falcons a 1-1 draw.
 
On a rainy Sunday afternoon in late October, Montevallo battled fifth-seeded Lee in the conference tournament. A late, first-half goal from Alea Taube kept the Falcons hopes alive going into the half down 2-1. Melanie Stevens fired a shot into the back of the net in the 71^st minute to keep the Falcons within one goal. A second shot from Stevens just a few minutes later nearly found the goal but the left post kept the Falcons from moving onto the second round.
 
Though the Falcons' season may have ended sooner than the team would have liked, Montevallo set several program records during the 2022 season. The Falcons tied a record for most clean sheets (9) and set a new record for most consecutive scoreless minutes (419). Montevallo's 23 shots on goal against Shorter on Senior Day are the most shots on goal in a single game for a UM women's soccer team. The Falcons' physical style of defense made the team one of the top defensive sides in the GSC but also lead to a league-leading 24 yellow cards. Individually, Hannah Waki tied a Montevallo record with 82 career games played.
 
Throughout the season, the Falcons were ranked in each of the USC and NCAA South Region rankings with a season-high ranking of fifth.
 

• Angelina Rivas was named GSC Freshman of the Week three times during her debut collegiate season before earning the GSC Freshman of the Year Award and a second-team All-GSC selection.
• Emily Hounsell earned one Defender of the Week award in her first season in a Montevallo uniform.
• Melanie Stevens was named as a member of the All-GSC First Team.
• Stevens, Avery Campbell, Espy Sanchez, Alea Taube, Hannah Waki and Kaeri Ward were named 2022 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District.
• Campbell, Stevens, and Rivas received a 2022 USC All-South Region nod.
• Rivas led the Falcons with seven goals while Campbell was Montevallo's top assister with five.