Baker's Penalty, Clean Sheet Carry Eagles To GLIAC Tournament Win

The Ashland University women's soccer team scored on a penalty kick in the 70^th minute and maintained their level after taking the lead, beating visiting Davenport, 1-0, on Tuesday (April 27) afternoon at Ferguson Field in the GLIAC Tournament quarterfinal.
 
The No. 2-seed Eagles (8-1-1) will now play No. 3-seed Northern Michigan on Friday (April 30) in the semifinal in Big Rapids, Mich.
 
The Eagles have now recorded three straight clean sheets and five clean sheets in their last six games.
 
"We have a lot of belief in the back line when they're stepping up in big moments and locking things down," said head coach Taylor Clarke. "It gives us grace in the attack, and we don't want to switch to that mindset, but we know we'll be able to create chances because we're eliminating other teams' opportunities."
 
The Eagles led Davenport (2-6-1) in shots, 17-6, overall and 8-2 in the first half.
 
They had a quality chance in the 26^th minute with three separate tries on goal, but Samantha Beckles came up big with save on a rebound shot by sophomore Bailey Clark.
 
Ashland's attack had more flow in the second half and the Eagles were finally rewarded in the 70^th minute when Clark played a short pass on the edge of the area to freshman Vanessa Menchofer, who was brought down from behind to draw the penalty whistle.
 
Junior center back Tori Baker stepped up to the spot and coolly knocked it in to give the Eagles the only goal they would need. It was Baker's first goal of the season.
 
"Credit to Tori to step up in a moment like that," Clarke said. "It's not an easy one, playing in any kind of tournament when your team needs you. She kept a cool head, finished it simply. It was great from our team to have that support up top, win the PK. We created something really good and were able to draw the foul."

From that time, the Eagles were able to see the game out by defending from the front, applying a high pressure and not absorbing possession from Davenport.
 
Senior keeper Hannah Lee made three saves in the game to preserve the clean sheet.
 
The Eagles have now won their last four GLIAC Tournament quarterfinals, but have not appeared in the GLIAC championship game in that time.
 
They will look to end that streak on Friday against the Wildcats, whom they beat, 2-1, at home on April 3.