MEQUON, Wis. – Edgewood College's defense did all it could while going up against the potent Concordia University Wisconsin offense Tuesday afternoon in an attempt to find its way to the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference championship match for the third-straight year, but three quick goals in the second half from the Falcons dashed the Eagles' hopes and ended their 2014 season.
Less than two weeks after having to come back from two one-goal deficits in Verona, Wis., the Falcons of Concordia University Wisconsin made sure they weren't going to have to play catch-up at home as the No. 2 seed in the semifinal match. They allowed just one shot in the first half—a shot that sailed high off the foot of Jennifer Dailey in the eighth minute—and rattled off 17 shots of their own in the first 45 minutes, eight of which were on target. Senior Edgewood College goalkeeper Tori Fortney played perhaps one of the better halves of her collegiate career and made multiple diving stops to keep the score knotted at 0.
The heavy offensive pressure from the Falcons finally paid off just 1:25 into the second half, as Emily Ciesielczyk set up Jaclyn Theune for her fourth goal of the season. Theune put the goal in from about 17 yards out following Ciesielczyk's cross. Edgewood College had a chance to tie it at one on its first of two corner kicks of the game shortly after Theune's goal in the 51st minute, but Haley Gaines' attempt was quickly cleared out of Aurora's zone.
The next time the Falcons would strike came in the 61st minute following a corner kick. Abigail Freeland lofted one into the box from the corner and Anna Hirssig was there to punch in her ninth tally of the season. Concordia Wisconsin would march right back just over a minute later for their third goal, as Carley Pfannerstill notched her 15th of the season on a strike from 15 yards out.
Jennifer Dailey would provide the Eagles with their first shot on goal of the game in the 66th minute, while freshman Hannah Menzia had the second and final shot on target for the Eagles in the 85th. Fortney wound up with nine saves in 68:37, while Maddie Schroeder made one stop in her 21:23 of playing time. Ariana Worthing recorded her second-straight shutout and made two saves on the night while facing three.
The loss marked just the third time in Edgewood College's last nine semifinal appearances that ended in regulation, and the Eagles are now 5-5-2 all-time against the Falcons in postseason play. The Eagles finish the 2014 season with an overall record of 13-6-1, while CUW (14-5) advances to play No. 1 seed Aurora University in the NACC Championship match at 1 pm Saturday.
