The Webster University women's soccer team defeated Westminster College, 4-2, in a SLIAC Tournament semi-final game shortened by lightning and featuring lightning scoring.  A flurry of four goals in just over two minutes in the second half, in which the Gorloks had a 3-1 advantage, propelled them to the championship game.

Webster got off to a great start when Kelli Cardine (SR, Chicago, IL/DeKalb) scored her second goal of the season 31 seconds into the contest on a breakaway, off a pass from Brianna Pagan (JR, St. Louis, MO/Washington).  The Gorloks had a couple more chances to score over the next 10 minutes, including a shot by Cardine that was headed just under the crossbar before it was slapped away by the Blue Jay goalie.

But Westminster settled down and had several shots on goal before tying the game at 30:29.  The teams entered the locker room tied at 1-1.  Webster wound up with a 9-5 edge in shots for the half.

Then before lightning struck in the sky, lightning struck on the field as the teams scored four goals in 2:19 in the second half.  The Gorloks regained the lead when Olivia Osterhage (FR, St. Louis, MO/Eureka) corralled a blocked shot off the Blue Jay goalie and punched it in at 65:32 in the second to give Webster a 2-1 lead.  Just 30 seconds later, Westminster tied it up at 2-2 when the Blue Jays beat Aly Miller (FR, Middleville, MI/Thornapple), who took over in the nets in the second half. 

Forty-five seconds later, Webster regained the lead on a Carolyn Ries (SO. St. Louis, MO/Lindbergh) goal, assisted by Kayla Dye (JR, St. Louis, MO/Windsor), and was back on top at 3-2.  Kelsey Hausmann (JR, St. Louis, MO/Mehlville) completed the scoring binge, giving Webster an insurance goal at 67:53.  Osterhage got the assist as Hausmann netted her third goal of the year.

Lightning flashed forced a mandatory 30-minute delay at the 78:05 mark in the second half.  The game was moved up to a 6:00 p.m. start from its original 7:00 p.m. schedule to avoid predicted storms with lightning.  But the weather system moved in earlier than expected and with no sign of the lightning letting up, the game was called after a forty minute delay and strikes still appearing in the sky. 

Webster now looks for its eighth SLIAC Tournament championship, and 12th SLIAC Championship overall.  There was no SLIAC Tournament from 2000-2003, and the Gorloks wont the league title/championship all four of those seasons.  Webster, who won its fourth straight SLIAC regular season title this season, has won 12 overall, tying Principia College for the most in SLIAC women's soccer history.

The Gorloks are ranked ninth in the NCAA III Central Region in the latest NSCAA poll.  Webster is 12-7 overall after finishing 9-0 in the SLIAC.  Westminster  ended the season at 9-8 overall.  Webster will face the winner of the Fontbonne University/Spalding University semi-final for the championship on Friday, November 4, at 7:30 p.m. at the Soccer Park.