ROCK HILL, S.C. -- Top-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne University blanked fourth-seed Newberry College 2-0, while third-seeded Wingate University Bulldogs scored three unanswered goals to defeat the seventh-seeded Pioneers of Tusculum College 3-1 in semifinal action at the 2010 Food Lion SAC women's soccer tournament Friday afternoon at Manchester Meadows.
Sunday's championship match will feature Lenoir-Rhyne against Wingate Sunday at 1 p.m. at Manchester Meadows.
No. 1 Lenoir-Rhyne 2, No. 4 Newberry 0
Lenoir-Rhyne (15-2-1) struck first in the 23rd minute with SAC Player of the Year Catherine Hauck (Lake Mary, Fla.) controlling her own rebounded shot and putting it past Newberry goalie Megan Hrenchir (Lawrence, Kan.) from eight yards out to put the Bears on the scoreboard.
Just two minutes after the intermission, Bears senior Audrey Moore (Dublin, Ireland) took a Kaelie Frazier (Cedar Falls, Iowa) cross from 10 yards out and found the back of the net to give the Bears a 2-0 lead.
The Wolves had one shot during the game, a Lora Moore (Raleigh, N.C.) attempt on goal in the 35th minute.
Caitlin Scruggs (Torrance, Calif.) spent the full 90 minutes in front of the net for the Bears, knocking away the lone Wolves shot on goal.
Hrenchir stopped six Lenoir-Rhyne shots while playing the length of the game in goal for the Wolves and dropped her overall record to 2-4-1 for the season.
Hauck and teammate Laura Linehan (San Diego, Calif.) led both teams with four shots a piece while Moore wrapped things up with three.
The Wolves ended the year 5-13-1 overall and 4-5 in conference play. The Wolves also earned a spot in the school record books after winning the program's first ever SAC Tournament quarterfinal game after defeating Mars Hill, 2-0.
Quotes:
Lenoir-Rhyne Head Coach Adrian Blewitt:
"When you get to this situation, anything can happen. The games have all been really, really tight. It's tough to beat any team in our conference twice. But I thought we really controlled the game. I thought we kept control and possessed the ball really well and I thought we took a couple of chances."
"This is our fourth year in a row being here and we lost in the championship last year. I think last year's experience is really helping us out."
"I think Wingate is really good team. I think they've got some talented individuals. That day they played better than we did and deserved to win. If we step up, and I think we're ready to, it will be a cracker of a game, a great game."
Newberry coach Karrie Miller:
"We were excited to be here. This is the first time we've been to the semifinals. We just weren't ready to play. Lenoir-Rhyne obviously won the regular season for a reason. They're a great team and I wish them luck for the championship."
No. 3 Wingate, No. 7 Tusculum 1
The Pioneers got on the board first, getting a goal from junior forward Patience Leonard (Greeneville, Tenn.) in the 33rd minute. Sophomore forward Kourtney Kavic (Oakville, Ontario) had the assist for Tusculum.
Wingate had the answer less than three minutes later, when freshman defender Chandler Murphy (Daniels Island, S.C.) netted her second goal of the season to tie the match at one. Senior defender and ESPN Academic All-District III honoree Samantha Baldwin (Stallings, N.C.) contributed the assist.
The Bulldogs took the lead in the 55th minute, when sophomore defender Kelly Moldenhauer (Charlotte, N.C.) headed in a corner kick from junior forward Kelly Adams (Matthews, N.C.) to make it 2-1 Wingate. The tally is the third goal of the season for the first team All-SAC selection.
Wingate added some insurance with less than 20 minutes remaining in the contest, when senior forward Jenni Barbett (Severn, Md.) netted her second goal of the season to make it 3-1 Bulldogs. Freshman forward Brandi Baldwin (Indian Trail, N.C.) collected her fifth assist of the year on the play.
The Bulldogs outshot Tusculum 22-6 on the afternoon. Wingate held a 7-2 advantage in shots on goal. Wingate also held a 10-1 advantage in corner kicks. Sophomore goalkeeper Miriam Boucher (Calgary, Alberta) had one save to preserve the victory for the Bulldogs. Sophomore goalkeeper Rachael Jennings (Asheville, N.C.) collected four saves for Tusculum.
Wingate improves to 13-2-3 overall and advances to the SAC tournament championship match for the first time in school history. Tusculum falls to 9-9-1 overall.
Wingate beat L-R 1-0 in the regular season matchup, handing the Bears their only league loss of the season.
Quotes:
Wingate Head Coach Gary Curneen:
"We wanted this really bad. We came out in the second half and I thought we were the only team in it. It was a really, really good performance."
"You could see the second half every ball there were three or four white shirts around it and we took our chances. When we take our chances, no one can live with us."
"We're just on a crest of a wave at the minute. We have nothing to lose. This is the first time we've been there. The pressure's not on us."
Tusculum Coach Mike Joy:
"We scored a goal and you give up a goal, it was probably about three or four minutes later, and that's something that every player that's ever played this games knows that's the time the other team's going to come back hard and we mentally laid down and let them back in the game. The second half, I give it all to Wingate. The second half they came out with a mission."
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