Women’s Soccer Tournament Results (Nov. 2)
(5) Wright State 1, (2) Detroit 0
(1) Milwaukee 1, (6) Loyola 0 (2OT)
MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The 2012 Horizon League Women’s Soccer Championship will be a rematch of the 2011 version. Fifth-seeded Wright State will meet the No. 1 seed, Milwaukee, after a thrilling day of soccer at Engelmann Stadium.
(5) Wright State 1, (2) Detroit 0
Outshot 18-8, No. 5 Wright State made the most of its limited opportunities, making a 36th minute goal stand up to defeat second-seeded Detroit, 1-0, in the Horizon League Women’s Soccer semifinal at Engelmann Stadium.
Wright State (9-4-6) had one true scoring chance in the match, but cashed in after a Detroit (9-7-1) clearance went directly to Emilie Fillion. Fillion, who netted the Raiders’ golden goal in Tuesday’s 1-0 win at Youngstown State, played the ball off her chest, giving her a 1-on-1 opportunity with the Titans’ Nora Abolins.
Fillion slotted the shot low and to Abolins’ left, beating the League’s Goalkeeper of the Year for her seventh goal of the season.
From there, the Wright State defense refused to bend, frustrating Detroit’s potent attack. The Titans had eight corner kicks in the match and six shots on the goal. Sarah Dzuris hit the post in the 72nd minute in what amounted to the Titans’ best chance of the night.
Brooke McCurdy, a Second Team All-League selection in goal, turned in her second shutout of the tournament, giving her eight on the year.
The win marked the second straight season that a fifth-seeded Wright State team ended Detroit’s year in the League semifinals. Last year, the Raiders advanced to the championship before falling to Milwaukee, 5-1.
Milwaukee 1, Loyola 0 (2OT)
Following the same script as their regular season match, Milwaukee capitalized on a lone mistake from Loyola in double overtime, netting the golden goal with 3:03 left to post a 1-0 win and advance to the League Championship.
Milwaukee (7-8-1) and Loyola (8-9-3) fought each other for control of match, with the contrasting styles proving to present both headaches and scoring opportunities for each side.
At the end, however, it was a sole mistake that doomed the sixth-seeded Ramblers in the waning minutes of the second overtime. A back pass was too slow back to keeper Monica Gonyo, and Krissy Dorre was quick to pounce.
Dorre took the ball at the top of the 18, and with Gonyo rushing out to try and cut down the angle, Dorre sent her shot to the lower left corner, finding the back of the net and setting off a wild celebration at the Milwaukee bench.
The scene was similar to the teams’ meeting on Oct. 10, when Helen Steinhauser scored with 23 seconds in double overtime to send the Panthers to a 2-1 win.
Loyola was on target throughout the night, sending 11 of its 15 shots on net. Jamie Forbes, the 2011 Horizon League co-Defensive Player of the Year, saved all 11 to collect the shutout and give the Panthers a chance.
Her final save came just one minute before Dorre’s game-winner, as Jessica Bean fired a shot to the near post off a corner; Forbes was in position and made the save.
The Ramblers thought they had the first goal of the match early in the second period, but their second touch was ruled offside, negating the goal.
