INDIANAPOLIS – Four different programs in the spring playoffs vaulted their way into the semifinal round of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Women’s Soccer Championship bracket throughout the day on Saturday.
 
No. 1 seed Findlay, No. 3 Cedarville, No. 5 Walsh and No. 7 Malone, all were able to make the final four programs left standing and will make the trip to Columbus, Ohio, to compete for the league tournament title.
 
Those four teams battled in respective quarterfinals for the right to advance. Two of the matchups were upsets in terms of seeding and the momentum for each team is considerable going into next week.
 
Findlay had the first matchup of the day against No. 8 Tiffin at DeHaven Field. The national championship-seasoned Oilers had the upper hand against the Dragons, whose stock is up considerably after making their first playoff appearance as a Great Midwest member.
 
Three different players scored for Findlay, which cemented the regular season conference title for the second straight year, on Monday vs. Kentucky Wesleyan. Hannah Rybicki remained hot, scoring for the fourth time in her past five games, with the first strike in the 40th minute. Elizabeth Talabac added insurance early into the second half and Sam Francis capped off the scoring at the 72:39 mark.
 
The Oilers found out they would be facing Walsh, co-preseason favorites with Findlay in the semifinals. The Cavaliers stormed Schoenbaum Field in Charleston, WV, with a shutout performance against No. 4 Ohio Valley. Haley Dancer scored relatively early in regulation, her second goal of the season.
 
Defense prevailed for Walsh while OVU had a 12-7 advantage in the shot department. Maura Hickey made seven saves in the 1-0 final while protecting the early lead.
 
In the other side of the bracket, Cedarville defended its home field with a 2-1 victory over No. 6 Trevecca Nazarene. Taylor Noll and Emily Walton helped Cedarville put the pressure on early with first-half goals for the Yellow Jackets. The Trojans scored the only goal in the second half as on paper, Cedarville had a very slight edge with 12 to 11 in shots.
 
The Yellow Jackets will meet against the Pioneers of Malone, who surprised many by eliminating No. 2 seed Ohio Dominican in the first round. Malone tied the Panthers, 0-0, through 110 minutes on the field and emerged through PK’s by a 5-4 final count.
 
Malone made its final three attempts in the shootout as Ohio Dominican opted for a different keeper other than starter Jadelyn McNerney in a strategic move. Pioneers’ keeper Jessica Morgan made nine saves in regulation and the overtime periods. The one-on-one opportunities were cashed in by Keeley Malley, Brooke Lindenschmidt, Madeline Ault, Natalie Martorana and Mykala Askew, in order.
 
Findlay and Walsh will play their semifinal matchup on Thursday at 5 p.m. ET while Cedarville and Malone will square off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Ohio Dominican’s campus. The all-conference team is scheduled to be released on Wednesday afternoon.
 
All remaining playoff matches will be streamed through the Great Midwest Digital Network.