By Beth Renkoski

11/03/09

Vanguard Advances To Semifinals

Evans battles for the ball

Currier goes airborne with an Eagle

Valles scored 1st for VU in the shootout

Costa Mesa, Calif. - It seems that some habits are hard to break. After squeaking through the end of the regular season with three straight ties and five double overtime games out of their last six, the Vanguard Lions had a chance to start fresh in the postseason. But, it was more of the same as the hosts tied Concordia 0-0 after 90 minutes of regulation and 20 minutes of overtime play today in the first round of the GSAC Women’s Soccer Postseason Tournament. However, the one difference proved to be advantageous to the Lions, who slipped to No. 8 in today’s NAIA Rankings. Requiring a shootout to separate the two teams and send a representative to the semifinal round, Vanguard earned semifinal bid with a 4-2 shootout advantage over the Eagles.

The Lions came out shooting in the first half but CUI’s Bekah Garvin made the necessary stops in goal for the Eagles, notching two saves against three Lions shots, including two on goal. VU’s All-GSAC keeper Jill Foss tallied one first-half save as the Eagles put only one of their three shots on frame. However, the Lions received a break at the end of the period when the horn sounded and the clock expired just before an Eagle shot found the net.

The Eagles, who dropped out of the NAIA top 25 today, had a couple of shots in the second half, but missed high on one and Foss corralled the other to maintain an empty scoreboard. Garvin made her save early in the period against two VU shots and the Eagles battled through one final corner kick opportunity for the Lions, sending the two teams into overtime against each other for the second time this season.

Each goalie registered a save in the first overtime period and CUI’s only shot of the second OT frame sailed wide of the goal with just over minute to play, setting the stage for a shootout battle to decide which team would move on to the semifinal round.

The Lions sent 2009 All-GSAC performer Gabriela Valles to the penalty kick line first. Valles, VU’s leading scorer this season, made her shot to give the Lions a 1-0 advantage, but CUI’s Zahira Montanez, also an All-GSAC selection, matched Valles for a 1-1 tie.

Vanguard sent sophomore Kathleen McDonald in for the second PK, only to be countered by Tamara Chagas, who tied it again, 2-2.

VU’s All-GSAC forward Karri Currier gave the Lions a 3-2 lead that would go unequaled as Aubrey Abercrombie hit the crossbar over Foss’ head.

The Lions tacked on the fourth point with a made shot by freshman Amanda Couch, VU’s second-leading scorer this season. Leading 4-2, the shootout was over when Shannon Smith’s shot missed wide for the Eagles (8-5-4), propelling the Lions to the next round.

Vanguard, the third seed in the eight-team GSAC Tournament, will take its 11-1-5 overall record into the semifinals at second-seeded California Baptist on Friday. The No. 7-ranked CBU Lancers shutout Fresno Pacific 5-0 in first-round action in Riverside.

Complete GSAC Tournament results will be posted on the GSAC website. Go Lions!

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