WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Nov. 19, 2017)-- Top-ranked Central Missouri Jennies Soccer earned a berth to their first ever Final Four in program history as they defeated the No. 4 Grand Valley State Lakers 3-1 Sunday afternoon at Jennies Field in the NCAA National Quarterfinals. With the win, the Jens remained undefeated at 24-0.
How It Happened
• It was a perfect day weather wise for soccer as there was not a cloud in site and the wind was a non-factor the whole game. The Lakers (20-4) outshot the Jens by just two shots, 17-15, and had just one more shot come on frame, 9-8, during the 90 minutes of action.
• GVSU was stubborn on defense not allowing a single shot by UCM in the first 18 minutes of action. The Jennies first shot came in the 19th minute and they made it count.
Jada Scott handled the ball at the top of the box and popped a pass over two defenders to
Makayla Toth inside the box. Toth nailed her shot to the far left side of the net, giving UCM a 1-0 lead.
• Both defenses continued to make it hard as neither team scored in the rest of the first period. The Jennies took the 1-0 lead into halftime, but the Lakers outshot them 10-7 overall and 4-3 in shots on goal.
• The second period continued to be a battle and the Lakers looked to equalize the game outshooting the Jens 5-2 midway through the second frame. UCM capitalized yet again on its second shot to bring the game to 2-0.
• Scott and Toth provided the score for the Jennies yet again in the 70th minute. Toth beat her defender down the right side of the field, played a quick pass to Scott from the right wing, and Scott played a quick hit to the right of the net from inside the box to give UCM a commanding 2-0 lead.
• GVSU refused to be shutout and scored its first goal in the 78th minute on a penalty kick. Forward Ava Cook went down the left side of the field and was fouled inside the box. She was injured on the play, so Gabriella Mencotti took the penalty kick. Mencotti lined up the shot and hit the right end of the net just beating
Ana Dilkes to cut UCM's lead to 2-1.
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Abby Rhodes added the Jens final goal in the 82nd minute to seal the game. She stole the ball at midfield, went down the left side, and smacked the ball to the far right end of the net, giving UCM a 3-1 lead.
• UCM outshot GVSU in the second frame, 8-7, while both teams had five shots come on frame. The game was battle the whole way, but the Jennies ultimately walked away with the 3-1 win.
Jennies Stat Leaders
• Scott and Toth led the way for UCM with three points on one goal and one assist apiece. Scott took a game-high five shots with three coming on frame.
• Rhodes was not far behind with four shots, two of which that came on goal.
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Emily Griffin had two shots off the bench, with one on goal.
• In net, Dilkes had a season-high eight saves in 17 shots faced while allowing one goal.
For the Lakers
• Mencotti had the most points for GVSU with two on a goal. She took three shots on the day, with just one being on frame.
• Cook was the high shooter for GVSU taking a game-high five shots overall, but just one came on frame.
• Tara Lierman had three shots overall, with one being on goal.
• Goalkeeper Jennifer Steinaway collected five saves for the Lakes while allowing three goals in 15 shots faced.
News and Notes
• The Jennies will make an appearance in the NCAA Final Four for the first time in program history. Prior to Sunday, the farthest the Jens had gone in the NCAA Tournament was the Elite Eight round, which they had done the previous three seasons.
• UCM continues to extend its program record for consecutive wins with 24. The 24 wins is also the most in a single season for the Jennies. The previous best for both marks was 19 straight wins (2010 season) and 21 overall wins (2014, '15, and '16 seasons).
• The Jennies have scored at least one goal in 57 straight games now. It is already a program and MIAA record.
• In the NCAA postseason, UCM is now 12-7-3 all-time and 12-6-3 under
Lewis Theobald.
Up Next
The Jennies will take on Mercy College out of New York in the Final Four. The Final Four and National Championship games will be played at Swope Park in Kansas City, Mo. The Jennies and Mavericks will play on Nov. 30, with the kickoff time to be announced.
