Concordia senior Jessica Ramback fights for the ball in the NAIA Semifinals.
12/4/2009 8:26:03 PM
DECATUR, Ala.—A goal in the 12th minute by Jamie Achten represented the lone score in the second semifinal match of the day as defending champion Lee University knocked off Concordia University 1-0 on a cold pitch to advance to the NAIA National Championship game.
With the win, No. 2-seeded Lee (20-2-1) will move forward to play unseeded Pt. Loma University in the championship match to be played on Saturday at Jack Allen Complex. Lee improved to 2-0 all-time against the Cavaliers. It was the second straight year Lee ended CU’s season as the Lady Flames defeated the Cavaliers in the NAIA title game last season.
Achten, one of the nation’s leading scorers, struck from 15 yards out on the left side with a line-drive shot that snuck inside the far post.
After being outshot 11 to 5 in the opening half, the Cavaliers controlled possession of the ball for the majority of the final 45 minutes, taking 10 shots in the final frame compared to eight for the Lady Flames.
“I thought we outplayed them in the second half,” CU head coach Grant Landy said. “It’s frustrating to get so close every year, but to have perspective, taking such a young team to the final four is a huge accomplishment.”
The Cavs finished with one additional quality shot than Lee with the shots on goal count resting at 7 to 6. The tally did not however account for a pair of goal rattling attempts from senior Jessica Ramback.
Ramback unleashed a 20-yard blast in the first half which ricocheted off the right post and headed a ball off the cross bar in the second period in CU’s best opportunities to square the contest.
Leah Wilson scooped up seven attempts to pick up the win for the Lady Flames while CU counterpart Georgie Christensen tallied five saves in goal for the Cavaliers. The Cavs were charged with 17 fouls throughout the match while Lee garnered 12 whistles from the referee.
“I think everybody thought that we were going to be down this year with all the players that we graduated, but these guys rallied and came together as group,” Landy said. “Unfortunately we didn’t get the bounce when we needed, but I am extremely proud with how we came out in this tournament and in the second halftoday. We played with a lot of heart and a lot of guts right down to the very end.”
Lee, who has not allowed a goal the entire tournament, will defend their national championship on Saturday when it faces tournament Cinderella team Point Loma Nazarene. Unseeded, Point Loma tied the No. 4-seed Azusa Pacific (Calif.), 0-0, and after 110 minutes of scoreless play, Point Loma Nazarene knocked off Azusa Pacific, 3-0 in penalty kicks. The Sea Lions have defeated four seeded teams on their way to the National Championship. They defeated No. 9-seed Simon Fraser (B.C.), 1-0, in the Opening Round and knocked off No. 8-seed Vanguard (Calif.), 6-1, in the second round. Point Loma Nazarene stunned the No. 1-seed Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), 2-0, in the Quarterfinals and got by No. 4-seed Azusa Pacific on penalty kicks, 3-0.