ST. PETER, Minn. – For the first time in the 13-year history of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference women’s soccer playoffs, Gustavus has reached the championship match and is set to face top-seed St. Thomas at 1 p.m. Saturday in St. Paul. The Gusties received a first round bye as the No. 2 seed and then hosted Concordia College on Wednesday, beating the Cobbers 2-0 at the Gustie Soccer Field. The Tommies reached the title match with a 2-0 victory over Augsburg.
Live online coverage of tomorrow’s match begins at 1 p.m.
GUSTAVUS LINKS: ROSTER | SCHEDULE | STATS
ST. THOMAS LINKS: ROSTER | SCHEDULE | STATS
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HOW THE GUSTIES GOT HERE
The Gustavus women’s soccer team shut out Concordia College 2-0 in the semifinals of the MIAC Playoffs on Wednesday, marking the first postseason victory for the Gusties since 1998 in their first ever MIAC Playoff game.
It only took 2:45 for the Gusties to take the lead as Maddison Ackiss (Jr., Fairbanks, Alaska) found the back of the net for her ninth goal of the season on an assist from Brittany Chase (Sr., Victoria, Minn.). The goal gave the Gusties a major boost of energy and it proved to be the game winner. Neither team found the net in the remainder of the first half and Gustavus led 1-0 after 45 minutes.
The Gusties started the second half similar to the first as Emily Odermatt (So., Minneapolis, Minn.) scored her third goal of the season 8:50 into the second. Coursey Edwards (Jr., Eden Prairie, Minn.) was credited with the assist. Concordia posed a few scoring threats in the second half, but Gustie keeper Ashley Becker (Fy., Farmington, Minn.) kept everything in front of her, totaling four saves on the day.
Concordia took five shots in each half for a total of 10, while Gustavus took eight shots in each half for a total of 16. Gustavus also led in corner kicks 5-3.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE REGULAR SEASON – GUSTIES VS. TOMMIES
The Gustavus women’s soccer team treated its Homecoming crowd to a 2-1 victory over the University of St. Thomas on Sept. 26 at the Gustie Soccer Field.
The match started out slow, but in the 17th minute Chaselyn Miller (Fy., Brooklyn Park, Minn.) found the back of the net to score her first collegiate goal. The goal originated from a corner kick, which came back to Sophie Leininger (So., Plymouth, Minn.) just outside the 18-yard box and she played it across to Miller, who then took a touch and shot it past the keeper on the far post.
Gustavus took a 2-0 lead in the 79th minute after winning a free kick from about 50 yards out. The kick was played high and the St. Thomas keeper got a tip on the ball, but with three Gusties crashing the net, Hannah Sturtz (So., Plymouth, Minn.) headed it in for the two-score lead and her second goal of the season. Odermatt was credited with the assist.
St. Thomas scored its first and only goal of the game in the final minute of play, but time ran out before the Tommies could muster a comeback and the Gusties claimed their first win over UST since 2011.
The Gusties outshot the Tommies 16-6. Keeper Ashley Becker recorded three saves.
We’ll see you in St. Paul Saturday st 1 p.m. for another win over St. Thomas and a trip to the NCAAs. Coach’s Dad and Mom
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