SWEET SIXTEEN
vs. THOMAS MORE
As it has done in every postseason match it has played, the Capital University women's soccer team found an early goal and held strong in the defensive third in the second half to defeat No. 14 Thomas More (Ky.) 2-1 in an NCAA Division III Tournament sectional semifinal match at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.
The Crusaders (19-4-1 overall) move on to face the nation's No. 1 team and sectional host, Washington University, in a national quarterfinal match Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Eastern (1:30 p.m. Central).
"I'm very excited about continuing our journey," Capital coach Chris Kouns said. "We've talked all year about how we have an opportunity for greatness … all we have to do is be the best team on the day we play each match. There's a belief among all our players that we'll find a way to do it."
Freshman forward Monique Hanayik (Sidney, Ohio) scored what proved to be the game-winning goal, striking a shot inside the opposite post in the 76th minute to give Capital a 2-0 lead. Sophomore midfielder Allison Mervau(Micanopy, Fla.) recorded the assist on Hanayik's fourth tally of the season.
Capital, which has already advanced further than the program ever has and set a school record for wins in last Sunday's second round match, allowed its first goal of the postseason on a penalty kick in the 78th minute but held the rest of the way to preserve the victory.
"Thomas More came at us with a lot of pressure," Kouns said. "We knew we had to keep moving our defensive formation, and I think that weathered the pressure."
Senior defender Lauren Roy (Toledo, Ohio) provided the first goal in the 30th minute.
Freshman midfielder Claire Quinn (Coto de Caza, Calif.) started the play with a corner kick. After a header by senior defender Corey McClellan(Columbus, Ohio) was blocked by a Thomas More defender, Roy picked up the loose ball and placed it into the back of the net.
It was Roy's second goal of the season, and the biggest of her career.
"As the moment showed, it doesn't matter who we're playing," Kouns said. "This group is dedicated to executing our set pieces, and those win championships."
The Saints (19-2-2) applied pressure early in the second half, taking three corner kicks in the first 10 minutes of the period. But the Crusaders, led by senior goalkeeper Maggie Donnellan (Cincinnati, Ohio), refused to allow Thomas More to sustain momentum.....
ELITE EIGHT
vs. Washington University - St. Louis
ST. LOUIS – Behind a stellar effort from senior goalkeeper Maggie Donnellan and a clutch, game-tying goal by freshman midfielder Claire Quinn, the Capital University women's soccer team will make its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament semifinals after defeating top-ranked Washington (Mo.) on penalty kicks in an NCAA sectional final Sunday at Washington University.
After the game ended in a 1-1 tie following 90 minutes of regulation and two overtimes, the Crusaders (19-4-2 overall) won 3-2 on penalty kicks to advance to become one of four teams in the nation still playing.
"We feel like on any given day, if we play and fight hard enough, and we're dedicated to do it as a team, we can be successful," Capital coach Chris Kouns said. "We know player for player, Washington is better, and if we played them 10 times, they might beat us nine times.
"We wanted to break up the game into 10-minute segments … if we could continue to play that way, the pressure would turn to Washington. For us, it was a matter of sticking to the game plan and getting things done, and we did."
Capital will take on No. 3 William Smith (N.Y.) quarterfinal match on Friday, Dec. 6, at Toyota Field in San Antonio, Texas.
The Crusaders made three of their four penalty kicks, while Donnellan (Cincinnati, Ohio) saved the Bears' first two attempts. After giving Capital a 3-2 lead in the session with her own PK conversion, Donnellan stopped Washington's final attempt, sending the Crusaders and their supporters in attendance into frenzy.
"Maggie was absolutely amazing," Kouns said. "For three years, her development working with goalkeeper coach Andrea Kaminski has been absolutely terrific. We didn't originally have her scheduled to take a PK if we got there, but with the way she was playing, there's no doubt we wanted her out there. And she ended up winning it."
Freshman midfielder Becca Cartmill (Temecula, Calif.) and senior defender Michelle Geiger (Cincinnati, Ohio) converted the other two penalty kicks for Capital.
The Bears (20-1-1) tallied the match's first goal in the sixth minute off a loose ball in the box as the shot skimmed off of the bottom of the crossbar and over the goal line. It was the first goal surrendered by the Crusaders in the flow of play during the postseason. Capital last allowed a non-penalty kick goal on Oct. 30 at Muskingum.
Trailing 1-0 at the half, the Crusaders came out aggressively in the second, posting three corner kicks in the first 15 minutes of the period.
Capital's strong offensive push paid off in the 67th minute, Quinn took a free kick and placed it just inside the far post off a set piece. Quinn's second goal of the year leveled the match.
"About 20 minutes into the second half, we decided to push forward, and we were fortunate enough to put Washington on its heels for about five minutes," Kouns said. "Claire's strike was absolutely beautiful."
Donnellan came up with three huge saves in the final 15 minutes of regulation to help preserve the tie. She finished with a career-high 18 saves as the Crusaders were outshot 38-8 in the contest. Capital outshot Washington 3-1 in the two overtimes combined.
The Crusaders, unranked entering postseason play, knocked off three straight ranked opponents en route to the national semifinals.
Check back early this week for more coverage on Capital's dream postseason run and NCAA Tournament semifinal berth.
For the complete stories and box scores visit our website: http://athletics.capital.edu/sports/wsoc/index
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