#17 EMPORIA STATE SOCCER ADVANCES TO MIAA CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

November 12, 2021-For the first time in school history Emporia State will play in the MIAA Women's Soccer Championship match following the Hornets 2-0 win over Northwest Missouri in the tournament semi-finals.
 
On a cold blustery day in Warrensburg, Mo. Emporia State was going against the wind in the opening half.  With 38 minutes left Mackenzie Dimarco, the leading scorer in the MIAA, was tackled and had to go off to get her ankle taped.  The Hornets were able to maintain things for the three minutes they were playing one person down. 
 
With time winding down in the first half, Dimarco got the ball just past midfield, split two defenders and put a shot past the challenging Bearcat keeper with just 3:03 left in the half.  Emporia State took a 1-0 lead into the break as they had a 9-3 advantage in shots and a 3-0 edge in corner kicks in the first 45 minutes.
 
With just over ten minutes left in the match Joanie Westcoat took a free kick from midfield that bounced off the left post. Hannah Woolery got a shot off from in front of the goal that was deflected and Gabby Crowell was able to put the rebound in the net for a 2-0 lead with 10:10 left in the match.
 
The Bearcats had a chance to cut the lead in half with just over six minutes remaining but Jillian Patton got the save on Kaylie Roc's shot from 15 yards out to preserve the shutout.
 
For the match Emporia State outshot Northwest Missouri 14-9 with a 9-1 advantage in shots on goal. 
 
With the win the #17 Hornets advance to the MIAA Tournament Championship match on Sunday afternoon.  They will take on the winner of the other semifinal between Central Missouri and Central Oklahoma for the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.