BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The Campbell University (4-3-0) women's soccer team fell short, 4-3, against Western Carolina (3-4-1) on Friday night at the Eakes Athletics Complex.

"Western is having a great year," said head coach Samar Azem. "They've got some really dangerous players with speed up top. It was a really good game. It was very even."

Alexa Genas scored all three goals for the Fighting Camels for her first career hat trick, but her efforts fell just short. Western Carolina's Kasey Cooke scored two goals in the final six minutes of play to give the Catamounts the victory.  

"I'm really proud of Alexa. It's not easy to score three goals against anyone, let alone a top quality opponent like Western," said Azem.

Campbell quickly got on the board, as Genas netted her first goal of the match in the second minute of play. Genas collected the ball off Hanna Maansson's blocked shot and put it past the WCU goalkeeper to give CU a 1-0 lead.

Western Carolina knotted it up at 1-1 in the 16th minute off of a goal by Megan McCallister. She squared up at the top of the box and fired away a shot that slipped past the outstretched arms of Erin Scott into the left side of the net.

The Fighting Camels had a plethora of scoring opportunities in the final 20 minutes of the opening frame. CU registered four shots in that span, but none could evade the WCU defensive line.

Much like CU did in the opening frame, WCU got off to a quick start in the second half. Eynde Frazier put the Catamounts up, 2-1, three minutes in to the half with her first goal of the season. Frazier received the ball from Sayres McKenna and volleyed it over the head of Scott for the goal.

Genas recorded her second goal of the game off of a free kick in the 53rd minute of play to even it up. The Albuquerque, N.M., native took the kick from 26 yards out and the ball deflected off of a WCU defender into the back of the net.

Campbell regained the lead in the 60th minute after Genas netted her third goal of the match. Genas evaded several Catamount defenders and fired away her shot from the left corner of the box past the WCU goalie into the right corner.

In the 84th minute, Cooke converted a penalty kick into the right corner of the goal past Scott to tie it up at 3-3. Five minutes later, Cooke scored the game-winner with a shot from the right side of the box that was deflected by a CU defender into the net.

Campbell registered 12 shots over the course of the match to Western Carolina's 11. Both squads notched seven shots on goal, while the Catamounts held a 4-3 advantage in corner kicks. Genas led the Fighting Camels with four shots, all of which were on frame.

"The season is just beginning. We've got UNCW on Sunday, who's a really good opponent. Then we start conference next week," said Azem.

Up next, the Camels will face off against in-state rival UNCW on Sunday at 2 p.m. to close out the non-conference schedule. For the most up-to-date information about Campbell women's soccer, make sure to follow @GoCamelsWSOC on Twitter.