Women’s Soccer season ends in quarterfinals of NAC Tournament
Box Score: MSOE 1, CUW 0
MILWAUKEE - Concordia University Wisconsin's season ended abruptly on Sunday afternoon during the women's soccer quarterfinals of the Northern Athletics Conference Tournament, as MSOE tallied the match's only goal in the 33rd minute at Time Warner Cable Stadium.
Jamie Janczak laced a shot to the high corner of the net with 12:10 remaining in the opening period and the Raiders (13-7-0) defense clamped down for the remainder of the contest to continue their season.
Junior goalkeeper Samantha Anacker (Janesville, Wis.) made several diving saves and received help from her teammates, but MSOE held a slight 19-14 shot advantage. Anacker made six saves in the match.
"It was an even match throughout and we played extremely hard," head coach Ryan Middendorf said. "Jamie had a great shot that just happened to find the back of the net and that was the difference. This is a tough way to end our season."
Junior midfielder Lauren Straehler (Pewaukee, Wis.) nearly scored the equalizer nine minutes into the second half when her shot from 35 yards out smashed the crossbar and ricocheted straight down and inches from being called a goal.
Over the final 27 minutes the Raiders kept the pressure on the Falcons defense, forcing several tense moments. MSOE's Paula Bohl took a shot that caromed off the post which forced CUW's defense to record a save.
During the final 10 minutes Middendorf adjusted his players on the field and at one point was running with five forwards. The adjustment allowed CUW (10-7-1) one last opportunity to send the match into overtime when senior forward/midfielder Kelly Sippel (Fond du Lac, Wis.) took a shot, but was saved by MSOE goalkeeper Emme Lumpe.
CUW's senior class of - Renee Hecker (Harrison Township, Mich.), Emily Pacheco (Iron Mountain, Mich.), Sippel, and Kelli Wittenberg (Sturtevant, Wis.) - concluded their careers with a 45-29-5 overall record and a 33-10-4 NAC record.
The four helped the program advance to four conference tournaments, including two postseason victories.
"I would like to thank our seniors for the hours and years of dedication to this program," Middendorf said. "Their leadership and hard work will be remembered for years to come."
