The Ashland University women's soccer team lost to Northern Michigan, 1-0, on Friday (April 30) afternoon in the GLIAC Tournament semifinal in Big Rapids, Mich.
The defeat ended the Eagles' season a game shy of the GLIAC title game where the Wildcats (8-2-1) will play No. 4 seed Grand Valley State on Sunday.
The No. 2-seeed Eagles (8-2-1) had their nine-game unbeaten run snapped by Northern Michigan – the No. 3 seed – on Friday in a game that was evenly matched.
The teams were tied in total shots at 13 and shots on goal at four, but NMU's 36
th minute breakthrough provided the difference as Caroline Halonen got in behind after a scramble in the box as the cross from Aidan Senior found her in front of the net. Halonen leads the GLIAC with 11 goals on the season.
The Eagles looked better in the second half, outshooting the Wildcats by a 9-1 margin, but were unable to break down an NMU side that came into the game with four straight wins.
Ashland had five shots in the final 10 minutes, including one from senior center back
Hannah Riddle that was cleared off the line with 15 seconds remaining after a corner kick.
AU had another big chance in the 75
th minute to equalize, but freshman
Vanessa Mechofer was not able to keep her shot under the bar as she came free at the back post on a cross.
Senior keeper
Hannah Lee made three saves in the game while Shenae Kreps kept the Eaglees off the board with four stops for the Wildcats.
AU
WSOC/BB
