From Jamestown Athletics
JAMESTOWN, ND. (jimmiepride.com) – The No. 22 University of Jamestown women’s soccer team advanced to the GPAC postseason tournament final, defeating Morningside (Iowa) University 3-1 Tuesday night at the Jimmie Turf Field.
UJ, the tournament’s top seed, improves to 18-0-1 overall and will host second seed Briar Cliff (Iowa) Friday. The Chargers (14-2-1) won the other semifinal matchup Tuesday, defeating Hastings (Neb.) by a score of 4-1.
The fifth-seeded Mustangs looked to pull off their second straight road upset in the tournament after taking down fourth seed Midland (Neb.) 3-0 in the quarterfinals. However, the Jimmies put the pressure on with the first goal of the match.
In the 15th minute, Claire Struble (SR/Murrieta, Calif.) dribbled into the left side of the 18-yard box, turned a defender, and sent a left-footed pass towards Cassandra Diaz (JR/Montebello, Calif.). Diaz and a Mustang defender both went for the ball, but Diaz was able to get a touch over to Penelope Hoppe (SR/Temecula, Calif.) at the top of the goal box. Hoppe got a clear shot and took advantage, making it 1-0 Jamestown.
Morningside got its first shot of the match a little over a minute later, an Ebba Torgner attempt saved by UJ keeper Alex Nowka (JR/Anchorage, Alaska). The Jimmies nearly took a 2-0 lead in the 32nd minute, but Kamryn Fiscus (JR/Yakima, Wash.)’s shot caromed off the crossbar back into play.
Diaz doubled the Jamestown lead 21 seconds into the second half with a deft back heel kick to beat Mustang keeper Sarah Finn. Hoppe was dribbling across the top of the goal box but Finn deflected the ball right to Diaz, who took a quick look over her shoulder and flicked the ball into the net.
The Jimmies took a three-goal lead in the 63rd, capitalizing on defensive pressure put on by Gabby Sarkis (SO/Campbelltown, Sydney, Australia). Approximately 35 yards from goal, Sarkis forced a Mustang defender into a back pass, but Diaz cut in from 25 yards out and received the ball, headed towards her left, then reversed field to get off a right-footed strike high above Finn into the back of the net.
Morningside got on the board in the 66th minute as a ball was played deep from the back line into the Mustang offensive zone. The ball took a tricky hop by a Jimmie defender, and as Nowka came out to knock the ball away, Ellie Gengler found a clear opening to beat Nowka and make it 3-1.
UJ conceded just one more shot on goal in the 67th minute, and kept the Mustangs from building any momentum after Gengler’s goal.
Nowka ended with six saves in the match. Shots were 13-10 in favor of Jamestown, and shots on goal were even at seven.