St. Ambrose to play for conference title
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Judson ( 9-6-1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
St. Ambrose ( 4-7-1) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
St. Ambrose will play in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) women's soccer tournament final for the first time. The Bees (9-6-1) avenged an early-season loss and defeated Judson University (4-7-1) in the CCAC semifinals 1-0 Thursday night in Davenport.
SAU found the back of the net early on. A Morgan Wahlen corner kick found the head of Keeli Frerichs which found the foot of Mia Lisanti who booted the ball into the goal to give the Bees a 1-0 lead just six minutes in. Wahlen had a chance to add to the SAU lead in the 22nd minute, but her shot was saved. Molly McLaughlin kept the visitors off the board saving a shot from Judson's Shelby Key in the 35th minute and one from Alondra Blanco in the 39th minute. Key had another opportunity for the Eagles, but her header was cleared off the line by Erin Smothers. The teams managed one more attempt each before the halftime whistle.
Wahlen got another opportunity to up the lead in the 48th minute, but her shot was saved. Margaret Hamilton had a chance in the 70th minute to get a goal, but her shot was saved as well. Judson's Blanco had two chances for a goal, but both times her shot was blocked by Haley Salander. McLaughlin recorded another save in the 72nd minute to keep the Eagles off the scoreboard. Each team had a chance to score in the 77th minute, but Hamilton's attempt was saved by Marissa Fetters, and McLaughlin would stop the shot from Blanco. Neither team had an opportunity again, and the game would end 1-0.
The St. Ambrose defense was stout once again as Smothers, Adriane Latham, Natalie Miller, Salander, and Morgan Vercautren allowed just five shots on goal, and McLaughlin made four saves in the win. Mary Evans and Frerichs helped in the defensive effort as did Lisa Walter and Morgan Wahlen in the midfield. The Bees tallied 11 shots, with seven of them on target.
SAU will play Cardinal Stritch on Saturday, April 10th for the conference title and a chance at Nationals. The Wolves beat the Bees 1-0 in overtime earlier this season. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.