The Pioneers advanced to the second round of the Heart of America Conference tournament
on Saturday, beating #19 Missouri Valley 1-0.
With a loss to the Vikings earlier in conference play, the Pioneers set out to avenge their defeat and move on in the conference tournament. The teams matched up very well with one another and the first half would prove it.
Both teams fought for possession of the ball in the first half, looking for an opportunity to go ahead in the game. With just 15 minutes left to play in the first half, the Pioneers thought they had done just that. Defender
Sarah Schmidt got her head to the ball just before the MVC goalkeeper from a cross and powered the ball into the back of the net. However, a foul was called and the score remained tied.
Both teams went into the second half planning on getting on the score sheet. In another hard fought half of the game, both sides created great opportunities on goal, but both goalkeepers were up to the task.
It wasn't until 9 minutes left to play did the Pioneers find the game winner. MNU won a corner kick late in the game and midfielder Steffi Krohn swung the ball into the box. MVC won it first, but a failed attempt at a clearance played the ball wide to defender
Breanna FitzGerald's feet. FitzGerald took a touch and played a perfectly weighted pass onto the head of forward
Taryn McClendon. McClendon did not hesitate as she headed the ball past the MVC goalkeeper.
MNU would hold off the offensive threat of MVC for the remaining 8 minutes of the game and advance to the next round. MNU finished the game with 8 shots on goal, compared to MVC's 9, with 3 of those shots on target compared to MVC's 4. Goalkeeper Anesa Curic
recorded 4 saves in the shutout.
MNU will face #12 Baker on Wednesday afternoon in the semifinal match at 7:30 pm in Baldwin City.
