The Webster University women's soccer team positioned itself for a fourth straight St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament championship with a 2-1 win over Greenville College (IL), on November 5 at the Soccer Park. Webster, the #1 seed, will host Westminster College, a winner in the other semi-final, on November 7 at the Soccer Park.
After an uneventful first half, the Gorloks grabbed a quick 2-0 lead in the second with goals by Allison Ferguson (JR, Highland, IL/HIghland HS) and Carolyn Ries (SO, St. Louis, MO/Mehville HS). Lauren Pratt (SR, St. Louis, MO/Incarnate Word Academy) assisted on Ferguson's goal at 47:42, and Ferguson picked up the assist on Ries' tally at 52:23. For Ferguson, it was her fifth goal of the year, while Ries picked up her first on the season...which proved to be the winner.
With Webster having outshot the Panthers 8-2 at that point in the second half, the Panthers took advantage of a corner kick and scored on a header at the 81:14 to cut the Gorlok lead in half to 2-1. The Webster defense held on, missing out on a couple chances to add an insurance goal.
In the first half, Webster dominated play but only got off two shots as Greenville was content to employ a defensive strategy. Webster's best chance to score came on a header by Jessica Mess (SR, St. Louis, MO/Northwest HS) that deflected off the top right corner of the Greenville goal and wide with 2:52 left in the period. Gorlok goalie Alisa Coralic (FR, St. Louis, MO/Mehlville HS) faced only two Panther shots and neither team made any saves.
Coralic would get the win in goal, her ninth on the year as she improves to 9-1. She made one save in the contest. The Gorloks wound up outshooting the Panthers, 10-5, and had a five corner kicks to one edge.
Gorloks defeated Greenville, 2-1, in overtime on October 31 to clinch first place in the SLIAC. Webster is now 4-1 vs. Greenville in SLIAC Tournament play, most recently losing to the Panthers in the semi-finals in 2011 and defeating them for the title in 2012.
Webster had a 2-1 win over Westminster on October 13 at the Soccer Park. The Gorloks had to come from behind with two late goals to clinch the victory. The Blue Jays, the #3 seed, were a 3-2 winner at #2 seed Spalding University (KY) in the other semi-final.
Webster has won three straight SLIAC Tournament Championships and seven of the 12 tournaments held since the program started in 1999. The Gorloks were 8-1 in the SLIAC, finishing in first place for the fourth straight season. Webster is now 13-5 overall on the year and are ninth in the latest NSCAA Central Region rankings.
The SLIAC Championship game will be at 7:30 p.m. on November 7 at the Soccer Park.
