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UTAH VALLEY TO FACE BYU IN NCAA TOURNAMENT
Utah Valley will face No. 13 Brigham Young in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Wolverines (14-6-2) and Cougars (15-2-2) will face off on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. at South Field. BYU holds a 1-0 all-time advantage over UVU with the Cougars taking a 1-0 victory in 2012 at South Field.
UTAH VALLEY WINS WAC WOMEN'S SOCCER TOURNAMENT
FINAL
Utah Valley claimed the 2015 WAC Women's Soccer Tournament title with a 2-0 victory over Seattle U. The Wolverines used goals from Taylor Kirk and Sara Callister, along with a four-save shutout by Tournament MVP Jessica Duffin, to earn the automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
Kirk, a junior forward, latched on to a turnover from the Seattle U defense and was able to fend off a defender and beat SU keeper Brianna Smallidge to the lower right corner for the opener. The goal came largely against the early run of play, on UVU's first shot of the match, after SU dominated pressure and possession for the first 20 minutes.
In the second half, SU again had much of the early pressure, but Duffin, the WAC Defensive Player of the Year, held strong in goal. In the 70th minute, UVU executed a prefect counter attack, as Kirk found Callister on the right wing and she beat Smallidge to the top right corner for the insurance goal.
The win gives UVU its first NCAA Tournament berth and head coach Brent Anderson his 100th career win. It is also the Wolverines first victory over SU in school history, after going 0-9-1 in the previous 10 matches. The loss ended Seattle U's 16-game unbeaten streak, which was the longest in the nation.
GAME 4
No. 1 Seattle U's defensive dominance continued as the Redhawks shutout No. 5 CSU Bakersfield 2-0 to advance to the WAC Women's Soccer Tournament championship match. This is SU's fourth-straight shutout and 13th on the season.
Senior defender Kiana Kraft ranged forward late in the first half, scoring off an assist from WAC Offensive Player of the Year Julia Moravec, to put SU up 1-0. The Redhawks extended the lead in the 84th minute after Summer Mason flew down the wing on a counter attack an found Moravec, who calmly one-touch finished from the spot. The Redhawks were statistically dominant, out-shooting the ‘Runners 15 shots to two in the match, including eight shots to none in the first half. CSUB didn't test SU keeper Brianna Smallidge until the 51st minute on an effort from Whitney Strong.
GAME 3
No. 2 Utah Valley defeated No. 3 UMKC 2-0 to advance to the WAC Women's Soccer Tournament championship match, with senior forward Kali Stubbs scoring both goals.
Stubbs, an All-WAC first team selection, scored both goals in the second half, breaking open a tight game. Following a UMKC defensive miscue, she toe-poked home a cross from Breanna McCarter to give the Wolverines a lead in the 50th minute. She added the insurance goal just over 20 minutes later, taking a pass from Taylor Kirk on the edge of the box and curling a shot in the upper corner.
WAC Defensive Player of the Year Jessica Duffin made seven saves, stopping several challenging efforts from the UMKC's Lexie Howard and Reighan Childers, for the 16th shutout of her career.
GAME 2
No. 5 CSU Bakersfield claimed its first postseason victory in program history with a 2-1 victory over No. 4 NM State on Thursday night. Following a NM State handball, frreshman Alexa Orrante scored on penalty kick in the 70th minute to give the ‘Runners the initial lead. WAC Freshman of the Year Aminah Settles scored the vital insurance goal less than six minutes later, latching on to a Haley Vicente through ball and dribbling around the keeper before rolling the ball home.
NM State refused to go away, hitting the crossbar twice in the match, before finally putting one into the net with just 34 seconds remaining, as Devin Hart put home a Morgan Campbell corner.
GAME 1
No.3 seed Missouri-Kansas City's freshman powered them into the semifinals of the WAC Women's Soccer Tournament with a 3-0 win over No. 6 UT Rio Grande Valley on Thursday.
Freshman combined for nine points in the match, as Lexie Howard scored twice off Kelsey Mothershead assists and Carly Janike headed home a Reighan Childers corner. Freshman keeper Anna Lillig also kept a clean sheet in net, making four saves, including a diving effort in the first half to deny UTRGV's Frida Farstad-Eriksson.
Sophomore goalkeeper Erica Gonzalez made five saves for the Vaqueros to keep the match within reach early.
CENTURY MARK IN STYLE
Utah Valley head coach Brent Anderson reached the 100-win mark in his career with his team's win in the championship match of the WAC Women's Soccer Tournament
2015 NCAA COLLEGE CUP
The 34th Annual Women's College Cup at Wakemed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C., Dec. 4 and 6. Last season, Seattle U represented the WAC in the NCAA Tournament. The Redhawks defeated Washington St. in the first round, 2-1 in double overtime, but fell at South Carolina in penalty kicks, 0-0 (2-1), in the second round. The following is a list of sites and dates for the 2015 NCAA Tournament:
First Round (64)
Nov. 13-15, 2015
On campus sites TBD
Second Round (32)
Nov. 20, 2015
On campus sites TBD
Third Round (16)
Nov. 22, 2015
On campus sites TBD
Quarterfinals (8)
Nov. 27-28, 2015
On campus sites TBD
Women's College Cup
Dec. 4 and 6, 2015
Wakemed Soccer Park
Cary, N.C.