INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Tigers used three second half goals to advance further in the NAIA National Championship field.
A brisk 31 degrees and snow-covered grounds was the setting for this NAIA Opening Round matchup. Campbellsville drove 177 miles north and MidAmerica Nazarene traveled 502 miles, in hopes of continuing their successful seasons.
MidAmerica Nazarene would test
Rirei Sasaki early with a corner. She stood strong and cleared the attack.
Olja Ivanovic had the first opportunity on goal for the Tigers but she sailed it high over the crossbar.
In the 10
th minute of play, Sasaki was on guard again. A low cross entered the box and was directed on frame. Sasaki picked up her first save of the match with a kicking it away. MNU continued to build pressure and test the Campbellsville defense. In the first 15 minutes of play, there were four offside calls against MNU.
Campbellsville fouled just outside of the 18-yard box in the 26
th. The dangerous chance was blocked by
Lauren Woodcock and then went out for a corner. On the ensuing possession, the defense couldn't clear the line and a laser from outside the 18-yard box found the net.
This would spark the intensity of both clubs for the remainder of the half. The two teams went back-and-forth creating opportunities. The Tigers fired three of their seven shots in the last 10 minutes of the period. The Pioneer keeper kept the clean sheet though and finished the first 45 with 4 saves.
CU placed four of their seven shots on frame. Sasaki ended the half with three saves. MNU put four of ten shots on frame. A testament to their aggression, they had six offside flags raised in the half.
Out of intermission, Campbellsville was the aggressors.
Jessie Bryson and
Angeline Kieh played a two-man game resulting in an unsuccessful shot by Bryson right at the keeper.
In the 59
th minute, Kieh crossed a ball into the box looking for
Agatha Nimene. She applied pressure and won the ball five feet away from the keeper where Nimene faked once and scored right past the goalie near post.
Following the tied game, you could feel the impact the goal made for CU as they started swarming all over the pitch.
Bethin Boyle fired a shot high before a corner was awarded to the Tigers. Kieh swung a corner herself that was bobbled by the keeper and then smashed home by
Sangmin Cha.
The Tigers sought to drop back and lock down with their defense. They found a clearing up the left side to Nimene and she drove at the back line and where she connected with Kieh unmarked. Kieh took a touch and finesse shot into the net just through the side of the frame, the 23
rd goal of the season for Kieh.
The Pioneers kept applying pressure down 3-1 as time was dwindling down. The back four and Sasaki stood strong though, advancing Campbellsville into the Second Round ofthe NAIA tourney.
The Tigers placed 11 of 16 shots on goal. Sasaki finished with five saves. Nimene and Kieh led the club with four shots each.
The Lady Tigers will return to action on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET. They await the winner of the Marian University-Bellevue match. Those two will square off at 6 p.m. ET tonight.
