Northwest University women’s soccer team reaches NAIA semifinals
Published 1:30 am Thursday, December 1, 2016
The Northwest University (NU) Eagles punched their ticket to the semifinals of the NAIA Women’s Soccer Championships with a convincing 4-1 victory over No. 17 ranked Reinhardt University Eagles (RU) of Waleska, Ga. on Nov. 30 in the Orange Beach Sportplex.
The Eagles scored three first-half goals while the defense limited the RU Eagles to just one shot on goal in the first half on their way to knocking off their second ranked opponent in two days.
After a weather delay of an hour and 40 minutes, the NU Eagles took an early 1-0 lead when freshman Rylee Rassier scored in the fourth minute after taking a pass from teammate, Jubilee Zavenbergen. Then it was Zavenbergen on the scoring end with 29-minutes 11-seconds left in the half with the help from an assist from senior, Kortney Hudak. Less than three minutes later, it would be Hudak putting her shot past the RU goalkeeper with the assist going to Rassier giving the NU Eagles a 3-0 which would carry through the half.
The NU defense took over in the second half, limiting Reinhardt shots and controlling possession, but in the 48th minute, RU’s Katie Hall finally put the RU Eagles on the scoreboard with an unassisted goal.
NU’s Hannah Nicholson scored the game clincher in the 85th minute with the sophomore Zavenbergen getting her second assist in the game. With Reinhardt pressing hard in the final minutes with six shots, the Eagle defense was solid with NU keeper, Lauren Hellum, making a save and Sharaya Roberts blocking RU’s final two shot attempts.
Hellum earned the win in goal for Northwest U (14-6-3), making three saves in goal. Rassier and Zavenbergen led the Eagles with three shots and three shots on goal each. NU took 12 shots with 10 shots on goal.
For Reinhardt (16-3-1), goalkeeper Taylor Asher made six saves for the Eagles. Katie Goodrich and Adrien Merrilles each took four shots, one shot on goal.
Northwest U now faces No. 7 Northwestern Ohio at 12:30 p.m. on Friday at the Orange Beach Sportplex.
