Box Score

NCAA.com Full Replay of IWU/Lynchburg Match

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Illinois Wesleyan women's soccer team was unable to overcome an early second half goal against No. 1 and unbeaten Lynchburg College, as the Titans fell to the Hornets 2-1 at Swope Soccer Village in the NCAA Division III National Semifinal match on Friday, Dec. 5.

With the loss, the Titans end their season at 18-7-1 whille Lynchburg advances to tomorrow's NCAA National Championship match carrying an undefeated record of 26-0-1. 

Previous to this season, IWU had never advanced past the second round of the NCAA Tournament and strung together a run of four matches away from Neis Field to make it to Kansas City.

Sophomore Sklyer Tomko was able to break through in the opening minute scoring off a rebound in front off a keeper save in the 19th second to give the Titans an early 1-0. Tomko's goal was the quickest goal that Lynchburg had given up all season, and only the fifth goal against the Hornets all season.  The lead was short-lived as Lynchburg was able to come right back and even the score at one in the 15th minute (14:51) on a shot from the inside left post from 15 yards out. Neither team would find many more opportunities in the first half as the Titans were held to only two shots while Lynchburg only attempted four. 

The Hornets took their first lead of the game at at the 47:40 mark as the ball was kicked around off a corner kick before Kelley Smith would fire a shot from the upper right side of the box past goalkeeper Dana Jourdan for the 2-1 lead.

IWU kept the pressure on Lynchburg, with Tomko getting a shot off a corner kick, but a team save by Lynchburg cleared the ball out for another corner kick. Minutes later, senior Brie Siebert had her chance against the Hornet goalkeeper, but a diving save was made to keep the score at 2-1. Illinois Wesleyan was unable to find many other chances for the rest of the game as Lynchburg's back line would hold tight for the 2-1 victory.

"We're close, we have a couple pieces to build into but we should be proud of our accomplishments" said head coach Dave Barrett in a post-game interview. "We didn't get beat by a team that was not better than us today."

IWU set the single-season school record for wins in a season with 18 as well as most points in a single season with 189. Tomko's goal gave her the seventh most in single-season history for the Titans, and was also the fastest opening goal in IWU's history. 

Seniors Kate Dunaway, Julie Govedarica, Tess Bottorff, Emily Johnson, Alex Partipillo, Siebert and Ashley Montijo made their final appearance for the Titans, playing in the school's first ever national semifinal.