No. 17 Taylor Defeats No. 11 Central Methodist, Trojans Advance to NAIA Championship Round of 16

NAIA Tournament Central | Championship Bracket

UPLAND, Ind. – The Taylor University women's soccer team earned its first NAIA national tournament win in program history after the 17th-ranked Trojans defeated No. 11 Central Methodist 1-0 in Saturday's NAIA Second Round match, hosted at Turner Stadium.

TU (14-2-3), which tied its single season wins record (14) and set a new single-season shutouts record (12), will advance to the NAIA Women's Soccer Championship final site in Pensacola, Florida. The Trojans will face top overall seed and Crossroads League rival Marian on Monday, Dec. 1, at the Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex.

After dominating possession in the first half, the Trojans kept putting pressure on and eventually broke through with the deciding goal in the 56th minute. The game-winning strike was an own goal by Central Methodist that ricocheted in the net after Morgan Fletemeyer lasered a line drive from the right side of the box.

The Eagles (16-3-2) did not go quietly and had several nervy chances late in the contest, as momentum shifted to their attacking zone.

Campbell Massey and Brianna Rawlings each delivered strong performances, displaying why the defensive duo was selected first-team all-league. In the 89th minute, Massey had the play of the night when she covered an open net and saved the potential equalizer from crossing the line after Rawlings got tangled up in a scrum.

Rawlings also made a game-saving stop a few moments earlier off a CMU corner, as the senior goalkeeper punched a header attempt above the bar and out of play. Rawlings finished the night with four saves.

TU held on down the stretch after fending off an 11-5 second half shot advantage for the Eagles. Overall, CMU held the slight advantage 14-12 in total shots and 6-4 in shots on target.

Fletemeyer, Brooke Cimini and Kiana Siefert each put a shot on goal. Siefert led with four shot attempts overall.

CMU's leading goal scorer Mariana Barrreto finished with four shots and placed three of those attempts on frame. The Eagles' keeper Amber Bennett recorded three saves.

The Trojans outshot the visitors 7-3 in the opening stanza and finished with a 9-4 edge in corners, with seven of those also coming early in the match. TU registered five corners and three shots within the opening 15 minutes.

It is the third ranked win of the season (3-2-3) for the Trojans, and the first victory over a ranked opponent at Turner Stadium since defeating then-ranked No. 10 Marian last season.

TU will travel to Pensacola, Florida over Thanksgiving break to prepare for its Round of 16 match on Dec. 1. Stay tuned to TaylorTrojans.com for a match preview and more information.