Thomas More captures fourth-straight PAC women’s soccer championship

Thomas More captures fourth-straight PAC women’s soccer championship

Bookmark and Share

PITTSBURGH, Pa. (pacathletics.org) – Top-seeded Thomas More College topped second-seeded Grove City College 1-0 in the 2014 Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Women’s Soccer Championship Tournament title match Saturday afternoon at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh.

The championship tournament title is Thomas More’s fourth straight, and fifth overall, since joining the PAC in 2005.

The Saints also edged the Wolverines 1-0 in the 2013 PAC title match in Crestview Hills, Ky.

With Saturday's tournament title, Thomas More secured the PAC's automatic qualifier for the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. The NCAA will announce its field and opening-round matchups for the Division III Championship Tournament on Monday, November 10 at 1 p.m. The selection show is scheduled to stream live at ncaa.com.

2014 PAC Women's Soccer Championship Tournament – Final
Saturday, November 8
Highmark Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pa.
#2 Grove City vs. #1 Thomas More
Thomas More 1, Grove City 0
After battling through a scoreless first half, freshman forward Julia Flagge-Echols (Colerain, Ohio/Colerain) scored the eventual game-winner in the 48th minute off an assist from junior forward Olivia Huber (Woodlawn, Ky./Newport Central Catholic) to propel the Saints to their fourth-straight league title. Sophomore goalkeeper Megan Barton (Florence, Ky./Villa Madonna) had five saves in the shutout win. The shutout was also the Saints' school-record 19th of the season. Grove City senior goalkeeper Kristi Lathrop (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) finished with five saves in the loss.

2014 PAC Women's Soccer Championship Tournament – Semifinal
Wednesday, November 5
The Bank of Kentucky Field, Crestview Hills, Ky.
#4 W&J at #1 Thomas More
Thomas More 5, W&J 0
The Saints jumped out to a 1-0 lead when junior forward Olivia Huber (Woodlawn, Ky./Newport Central Catholic) headed in a corner kick off of the foot of senior defender Emily Sanker (Alexandria, Ky./Bishop Brossart) just two minutes into the match. Thomas More increased its lead to 2-0 in the 16th minute mark when freshman forward Julia Echols-Flagge (Colerain, Ohio/Colerain) scored off a cross from Huber. Freshman midfielder Ally Wimmers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota West) scored off of an assist from freshman forward Abby Stadtmiller (Alexandria, Ky./Bishop Brossart) in the 42nd minute to extend the Saints’ lead to 3-0 at the half. Thomas More closed out the scoring in the 63rd minute when Stadtmiller scored off an assist by Flagge-Echols. Thomas More sophomore goalkeepers Megan Barton (Florence, Ky./Villa Madonna) and Christy Smith (Washington Courthouse, Ohio/Washington Courthouse) combined for the shutout after Barton played in the first half and Smith took over in the second. W&J senior goalkeeper Morgan Kinyon (Stockton, Calif./Pacific) made eight saves in her final collegiate game for the Presidents.

2014 PAC Women's Soccer Championship Tournament – Semifinal
Wednesday, November 5
College Field, Grove City, Pa.
#3 Westminster at #2 Grove City
Grove City 0, Westminster 0 (2OT); Grove City wins shootout 7-6 (9 rds.)
After battling Westminster to a 0-0 double-overtime draw, Grove City freshman forward Lacy Harkrader (Mineral, Va./Louisa County) broke a 6-6 tie in the ninth round of the shootout after a Westminster miss on its ninth-round shot. During the 110 minutes of play, Grove City held a 15-13 edge in shots, including a 6-2 advantage during overtime. Grove City had seven corner kicks while Westminster managed three corners. Grove City senior goalkeeper Kristi Lathrop (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) stopped five shots for the Wolverines. First-year goalkeeper Laura Page (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) had seven saves in 110 minutes of work for the Titans. Junior goalkeeper Rachael Letscher (Canfield, Ohio/Cardinal Mooney) replaced Page in the shootout.