Box Score MADISON, Wis. – A cold November night and a brutal north-west wind made for unpleasant conditions at Breese Stevens Field, but an Aurora University goal early in the second half made the night more miserable for the Edgewood College women's soccer team. The Spartans scored 1:35 after halftime to claim the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament championship 1-0 at Breese Stevens Field on Saturday night.
Edgewood College (15-4-1) got the better of the Spartans for the first 30 minutes of the match, travelling west to east, with the wind. Jennifer Dailey had a great opportunity in the 12th minute, taking a long lead pass from Emily Dorsett and running into the penalty area. However, her shot found the hands of Spartan goalkeeper Rachel Warnock to keep the Eagles off the scoreboard. Two minutes later, Emily Berns ripped a hard, bouncing shot across the Breese Stevens turf, but Warnock corralled that one as well.
When the teams changed directions, the fortunes of the Eagles changed with it. In the 47th minute, an Edgewood College foul led to an Aurora University (18-2) free kick from the right half of the field and about 35 yards out. Jenee Lange put the free kick on goal, partially aided by the wind and Edgewood College goalkeeper Tori Fortney could only deflect her long distance attempt. The ball struck Fortney's hands, rebounded off the cross bar and fell in front to Aurora's Brittany Roydhouse who punched the bouncing ball in from inside the six-yard box.
Edgewood College's best chance to tie came in the 53rd minute. Haley Gaines took a long free kick from the right side and aimed it for the far post. However, with Dailey crashing in behind her looking for a header, Warnock leaped and snatched the ball out of the air, preserving her clean sheet. Berns put another shot on goal in the 61st minute, but fighting into the wind and against an Aurora defense set to hold the lead, the Eagles didn't gain much ground.
The loss ends Edgewood College's season at 15-4-1, which represents the program's 11th consecutive double digit wins season. In 21 seasons, the Edgewood College women's soccer team has finished lower than third place in their conference just once. This year's NACC regular season title, marked the Eagles first crown since 2005.
Seniors who played their final game for Edgewood College on Saturday night include, Moe Baemmert, Hailey Boyle, Emily Berns, Zenaida Cordova, Brianna Franken, Mackenzie Klingert and Katie Pampuch.
