EMPORIA STATE SOCCER ADVANCES WITH 2-0 WIN OVER NORTHWEST MISSOURI

November 19, 2021-Playing without two starters in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against a team they had already played twice this season was no problem for the Emporia State Hornets as they defeated Northwest Missouri 2-0 on Friday afternoon on the ESU Pitch.
 
Going against a blustery wind the Hornets were able to get on the board in the 18^th minute of action.  Ashlyn Lakin delivered a flip throw in form the right side that the Bearcats appeared to clear. Aislinn Hughes was able to step in front of the clearing pass and sneak a shot on the ground past the keeper into the lower right hand corner of the goal. It was one of only two shots in the first half for Emporia State, who was uncharacteristically out-shot 4-2 in the opening 45 minutes.
 
With the wind at their back Emporia State was able to outshoot the Bearcats 8-2 in the second half with a 7-0 advantage in corner kicks and got an insurance goal in the 79^th minute off of one of those corners.  Hannah Woolery delivered the corner from the left side and Alexis Cole was able to get a foot on a deflection to give Emporia State a 2-0 lead.  It was Cole's first career goal in her first start of the season.
 
Jillian Patton and the Emporia State defense posted their fourth straight shutout of the postseason as Emporia State outshot Northwest 10-6 on the match.
 
With the win Emporia State advances to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and will play host to third seeded Bemidji State on Sunday afternoon.  Kick-off from the ESU Pitch is set for 2:00 p.m.
 
NOTES
The Hornets four consecutive shut outs ties the school record of four set in 2013 (2-0 over WU, 2-0 over Newman, 1-0 over SBU, 0-0 tie with UCM)
Emporia State ran their home unbeaten string to 27 matches with a 12 match home pitch winning streak.