INDIANAPOLIS – Two regionally ranked teams will battle for the title on Saturday as the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Women’s Soccer Championship semifinals played out in progressively rainy conditions Thursday evening from Ferguson Field at Ashland.
The top two seeds in the six-team bracket moved on as No. 1 Ashland and No. 2 Cedarville scored respective 1-0 victories vs. No. 4 Trevecca Nazarene and No. 6 Walsh.
The rain came and just did not stop throughout the evening. Winds were minimal but the weather certainly had some affect in how teams would normally be able to move around the field on both sides of the ball.
Both games were defensive struggles and shots in general were very difficult to come by. All the goalkeepers made some great saves while using their judgment from some tough bounces on the artificial turf surface.
And both goals came as a result of set pieces following a temporary stoppage of play. The Eagles scored their goal on a penalty kick situation in the first half while the Yellow Jackets capitalized on a free kick in the late moments of the second half.
Ashland and Trevecca had the early game in their second matchup of 2021. It was a stalemate for the first 30 minutes and change before contact was drawn in the box for the one-on-one opportunity.
Conference defensive player of the year Tori Baker showed she had some offensive tricks up her sleeve by drilling the PK for her fifth goal of the season.
Another talented defender, CU’s first team all-conference midfielder Mackenzie Northcutt, kept her free kick from 30 yards low to the ground as it skidded off the turf to find the back of the net. This one appeared like it was destined for overtime as both teams combined for a total of 12 shots in the nightcap.
Ashland is currently ranked second in the Midwest Region rankings and Cedarville is ranked eighth going into Saturday’s championship matchup. The championship game is set for 3 p.m. ET on Saturday with the winner receiving an automatic qualifying bid into the NCAA Midwest Regional.