In a matchup between the two top-ranked teams in the region, a 13^th-minute goal by senior midfielder Anika Washburn proved to be the difference maker, as the 10^th-ranked Case Western Reserve University Spartans defeated the 15^th-ranked Carnegie Mellon University Tartans 1-0 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Sunday afternoon.

With the win, the Spartans finished the 2021 regular season with a 14-1-2 record, setting a new program record for wins in a single season. In addition, the victory secured sole possession of second place in the University Athletic Association standings, matching the team's best-ever finish in the conference (CWRU also placed second in 1991). The team finished the conference season with a 4-1-2 ledger, matching the program record for UAA wins, and marking the best UAA record ever by a Spartan team (the 1993 team finished with a 4-2-0 record, while the 2011 team finished 4-2-1).

Carnegie Mellon ended the season with a 11-5-1 record, including a 3-3-1 mark in UAA play, good for a fourth-place finish in the conference.

Washburn's early goal was set up by a pass from senior Christina Hickson, who led Washburn perfectly into the six-yard box. Washburn was able to slip a shot past the keeper and into the net for her 13^th goal of the season. It was her 29^th career goal, moving her within one of the program record of 30, currently held by Sandra Oh (1993-96). In addition, she broke her own program record (set in 2019) with her 34^th point of the season, while her 71 career points are three off Oh's CWRU record.

The assists by Hickson was her fourth of the season, giving her 22 points on the year, the eighth-most in a single season in team history, while her 55 career points are the sixth-most in team history.

Meanwhile, sophomore goalkeeper Maggie Storti was a stalwart in the net once again, playing all 90 minutes to notch her second-straight shutout and her fourth in the team's last five games. She now has nine total shutouts on the year, the second-most in team history and one behind Anna Kennedy's program record (2011). She improved to 14-1-2 on the year with the win, setting a new program record for wins in a season by a CWRU keeper.

Storti finished the game with three saves, and lowered her season goals-against average to 0.48 with the effort. One of her best saves came in the second half, when she was able to punch a ball over the top bar on a shot by the Tartans' Sophia Bastek in the 71^st minute, preserving the CWRU lead.

CWRU finished the game with seven shots, including three on goal, while Carnegie Mellon registered 11 shots, four of which were on target. It was the 11^th shutout through 17 games this season for the Spartans' defense.

The Spartans will now await the selection of the field for the 2021 NCAA Division III Championships, set to be released via a live selection show on ncaa.com on Monday, November 8 at 1:00 p.m. CWRU is hopeful to receive one of the 20 Pool C at large bids to the tournament. The full bracket, along with the dates, times and locations of matches for the first two rounds will be released during Monday's selection show.