Fulton, Mo., April 19, 2021 – The Westminster College women's soccer team was out to make a statement on Monday night in the SLIAC Tournament Quarterfinals against the Iowa Wesleyan Tigers. The Blue Jays tied for second place in the conference but lost a tie breaker to get the #3 seed in the conference tournament. The Blue Jays would begin to make the statement that they believe they are under seeded with a convincing 4-0 win over the Tigers. The win improves the Jays record to 8-3 overall and 6-3 in the SLIAC. Most importantly, it sets up a semifinal showdown with the #2 seeded Webster University Gorloks on Wednesday in St. Louis. The Gorloks were victorious a week ago in Fulton 1-0 as the Blue Jays played the match without leading goal scorer Natalie Schulte.
The Blue Jays wasted little time before they would get on the board. In the 10th minute Schulte would play a beautiful through pass to Rachel Nolte who would beat the Tiger keeper to the far post for a 1-0 Blue Jay lead.
The Jays would add to that lead not even a minute later in the 11th minute Schulte again would facilitate and find Kelsey Gordon for a goal and a 2-0 lead. Despite many more opportunities the Blue Jays would not score again in the first half.
In the second half the Blue Jays would strike again. In the 59th minute the Jays would dump the ball into the Tigers defense. Schulte who never stopped sprinting got rewarded after the defender who was going back for the ball fell down and that left only the keeper to beat and Schulte did just that tucking it inside the far post for a 3-0 lead.
The Jays final goal came in the 73rd minute the Jays would take their seventh corner kick of the game. Lauren Halamicek would strike the ball high and deep to the far post it would bounce untouched until Maddy Lawton would fly in and put the ball in the back of the net for the fourth and final goal bringing the score to 4-0.
The Blue Jays would outshoot the Tigers 31-3 for the game including 17-1 on shots on goal. The Jays also held the advantage in corner kicks 7-1.
Megan Davidson would face just one shot on goal and would make that save routinely on her way to her sixth shutout of the season. She was helped out by solid possession and pressure by the Jays offense and a defense that rarely let the ball into their defensive third.
The Blue Jays will get the chance to advance to the SLIAC Championship on Wednesday night in St. Louis. The #2 seeded Webster University Gorloks will welcome the #3 seeded Blue Jays to WWT Soccer Park for a 5:00 p.m. semifinal match up.
