Nov. 18, 2006

OLATHE, Kan. - Defending national champion Martin Methodist College (Tenn.) got one step closer to a possible repeat with a 3-1 quarterfinal victory over Lee University (Tenn.) Saturday morning at the NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship at the College Boulevard Activity Center in Olathe, Kan.

 

Today's match-up was a repeat of last year's national title match in which Martin Methodist prevailed over Lee, 1-0.

On Saturday, Martin Methodist wasted no time getting on the scoreboard when Mizuki Yoshida snuck a ball inside the near post off a Sara Perrigan assist to take a 1-0 lead. The RedHawks grabbed a 2-0 advantage after Tassia Gimenez scored off a rebound of a Clare Sykes shot in the six-yard box.

 

Lee battled back with a unassisted goal by Samantha Hare in the 56^th minute to come within one, but Yoshida put a Lee comeback out of reach with her second goal of the day in the 67^th minute off the right flank to take a 3-1 lead.

Lee University, the region XIII champion, ends its season with a record of 19-4-0, while Martin Methodist improves to 19-3-0.

Martin Methodist will enter semifinal action Monday at 6 p.m. against the winner of No. 7 Point Loma Nazarene University (Calif.) and No. 2 Lindsey Wilson College (Ky.).

 

Goals by Period:

                      1^st          2^nd               Final

LU                 0            1                  1

MMC            2            1                  3

 

 

Scoring Summary:

 

Period            Time           Team           Player                    Assist

1                      4:59            MMC            Yoshida                 Perrigan

1                      33:29          MMC            Gimenez               Sykes

2                      55:33          LU                 Hare                       Unassisted
2                      66:56          MMC            Yoshida                 Sonnerborg

 

Cautions/Ejections:

Lee University: Yellow Card -- #9 (45:52)