GRANTHAM, Pa. --- The #1-ranked Lynchburg College women's soccer team needed a spark in the second half to down #2 Messiah College in the regional final on Sunday afternoon. The Hornets got that spark, and then some, to defeat Messiah and move on to the Final Four for the first time since 2009.
This marks the second time the women's soccer team has made the Final Four. Both times Lynchburg advanced to the national semifinals on penalty kicks, 2009 coming against Trinity (TX) University in a 1-1 game on the road.
Both teams went back and forth in the second half with Lynchburg and Messiah having multiple scoring chances.
"In my opinion, Tess (Frelick) had the best game of her career today," head coach Todd Olsen said about his keeper. "She was the MVP today, even before the penalty kicks. She was just awesome before the penalty kicks, but was unstoppable in them."
The Messiah defense attempted to take away the strength of the Hornet offense, but LC could not be stopped, scoring on a corner kick late in the second half.
Marina Clark took the corner in front of the Lynchburg faithful that made the trip to Pennsylvania, and sent the ball into the box. The corner sailed over Audra Larson's hand where four Hornets were there waiting. Jenn Snyder connected with the header to even the game 1-1.
"It was amazing to score that goal because after Angela (Bosco) got hurt Saturday we knew we were going to play for her," Snyder said. "It felt awesome to score that goal after I came back this year for a fifth season. It was like it was my first goal of the season."
From that point on, the defenses showed why they are two of the best in the country. As midfielders tried to push the ball into the box, defenders were there to turn it away. A combination of Emily Maxwell, Natalie Deacon, Gabbiy Soares and Alexis Jensen managed to keep Messiah off balance the remainder of regulation and both overtimes.
"We have shown all year that we can play with some adversity," Olsen added. "We are such a prolific scoring team that we knew we were going to get a score, it was just a matter of when it would get punched in. Once that happened it was a new ballgame and an absolutely amazing college soccer game. This is what the final eight should be about."
It seemed fitting that a duo of undefeated teams would remaining undefeated as the match would result in penalty kicks. Several well-placed shots would advance the Hornets or the Falcons to the Final Four. In their first penalty kick experience of the season, the Hornets moved on.
After coming mere inches away from making the first penalty kick, Lynchburg's Marina Clark, Emily Maxwell and Samantha Bagherpour connected on attempts to put the pressure on Messiah.
Frelick stepped up and saved the first Messiah attempt to keep the count even. Messiah would only make one of the next three as Frelick saved two more while Lynchburg connected on three straight to advance.
Lynchburg (25-0-1) faces Illinois Wesleyan (18-6-1) in the Final Four in Kansas City, Missouri. The Hornets will take the pitch for a 6 p.m. start on December 5.
--- This release is courtesy of the Lynchburg College sports information department. ---
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