Ashland University's women's soccer team routinely is one of the top teams, if not the best team, in NCAA Division II in corner kicks per game.
Eventually, a quality scoring chance will present itself off that particular set piece, and the No. RV Eagles scored shortly after one of their eight corner kicks on Saturday (Nov. 7) afternoon – en route to a 1-0 road win over No. 17 Cedarville for their third straight Great Midwest Athletic Conference Tournament championship, and fifth in six seasons.
"Cedarville's done an unbelievable job with the streak of shutouts," noted Ashland head coach
Cayleb Paulino, as the Yellow Jackets allowed their first goal in 10 full weeks on Saturday. "We've been getting better with them as the weeks have gone on, and we put it in the back of the net."
Ashland is 14-3-3 heading into the NCAA Division II playoffs, and the Yellow Jackets are 14-2-4. The NCAA Division II women's soccer selection show will be on NCAA.com at 7 p.m. on Monday (Nov. 9).
In a scoreless first 45 minutes, Ashland took all 10 shots and all four corner kicks.
But, in the 51
st minute, shortly after yet another corner kick, a scramble in front of the Cedarville net resulted in a trickling goal by senior defender
Adi Turnbaugh off an assist from sophomore forward
Tessa Blain.
"We've been talking about speaking things into existence. She said she was going to score today," Paulino said of Turnbaugh. "That's some leadership for us."
Turnbaugh's third goal of the season (with help from Blain's third assist) marked the first goal conceded by Cedarville at home in 2026, and the first tally AU has had against Cedarville in three games this fall.
Ashland's shots advantage after 90 minutes was 13-5, and its corner kicks edge was 8-3. Sophomore goalkeeper
Izzy Ezzone stopped one shot for her eighth individual clean sheet and the Eagles' 13
th overall this season.
AU will find out on Monday where and against whom it will play in the NCAA postseason.
"That's an exciting piece," said Paulino. "We put ourselves in position to be a higher seed. We'll celebrate this and get ready for Monday."
