DECATUR, Ala. – For the second straight year, the Lee women’s soccer team will be seeking a NAIA national championship, but getting to the finals did not come easy.
Sophomore forward Jamie Achten scrambled for a loose ball and worked her way past two Concordia (Ore.) University defenders on Friday evening, then delivered a perfectly-placed ball into the back of the net for the match’s only goal.
Christiane Christensen got the chain of events started when her well-placed shot hit the post and bounced away with 33:56 remaining in the first half. Achten reacted quickly to the narrow miss and made the move that proved to be the winner in the rugged 1-0 semi-final affair at the Jack Allen Recreation Complex.
Lee will face unseeded Point Loma Nazarene University (Calif.) for the championship on Saturday evening at 8 p.m. (EST). Point Loma advanced with a 3-0 penalty-kick decision over rival Azusa Pacific. Regulation time and two overtimes ended in a scoreless tie.
“The first half belonged to us and Concordia controlled the second half,” said coach Matt Yelton, who directed his Lady Flames to their 18th straight win. Lee will take a 20-2-1 record into the Saturday final. The Cavaliers end their season at 21-3 and were losers to the Lady Flames for the second consecutive year in the national tournament.
The pressure was squarely on the shoulders of freshman goalkeeper Leah Wilson and the Lee defenders in the second 45 minutes. Wilson turned away three solid Concordia shots. The game-saver came with 18:38 showing on the clock. A header by Concordia’s Jessica Ramback brought fear to Yelton and his staff.
“I thought it was in,” admitted the Lee coach. “Leah came up with another unbelievable save. Our entire back line stepped up again and played great. Claire (Lanter) Kristine (Tuck) and Linn (Christensen) were outstanding. Amy (Cochran) came on in the second half and played at a high level when Concordia was really trying to attack. Jenna (Achten), as usual, was a force in the middle.”
Lee attempted 19 shots and six were on target. The Cavaliers fired 15 shots and seven were on goal. Lawson finished with seven saves and Concordia keeper Georgie Christensen picked up five saves.
Yelton wasted no time in turning his attention toward Point Loma. “I know a lot of people will say they were unseeded and will not present a challenge. They came out of the NAIA’s strongest conferences and beat four ranked programs to get here, including No.1-ranked Lindsey Wilson. They also have a great defense and maybe the nation’s top goalkeeper.”
The playing field condition will continue to be a concern on Saturday. “It was not as bad tonight,” pointed out Yelton, “but it was still a muddy surface and will be difficult for the finals. Like we have all week, we will have to find a way to deal with it.”