(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 5) – The McKendree University women’s soccer team advanced to the NAIA Region V Championship game Monday night after defeating No. 10 William Jewell College 1-0.

 

Sophomore Sarah Ryan (Rochester, Ill./Rochester) (Rochester, Ill./Rochester) scored the game-winning goal midway through the first period off an assist by junior Jenni Schoon (Morton, Ill./Morton) (Morton, Ill./Morton) for the win. “What can I say about Sarah that I haven’t said already,” said head coach Tim Strange. “She’s put herself in high-gear the second half of the season and we’re thrilled with the way she’s been playing.”

 

The Bearcats, now 14-2-2 overall, were out shot 9-3 in the second half but freshman goalkeeper Liz Yanko (St. Louis, Mo./Rosati-Kain) (St. Louis, Mo./Rosati-Kain) grabbed 12 saves in the shutout to seal the win. “Liz has continued to play better and better as the season has progressed,” said Strange. “They had us on our heels in the second half and she stepped up and made some big stops for us.”

 

McKendree, the No. 2 seed in the Region V tourney, will host Benedictine College Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at Leemon Field for the championship game. The winner will automatically advance to the 24^th annual NAIA women’s soccer National Championship held in Daytona Beach, Fla., November 14-20. No. 4 seed Benedictine defeated No. 1 seed Graceland University 1-1 (4-3 PK) Monday night.

 

McKENDREE UNIVERSITY WOMEN’S SOCCER RESULT
McKENDREE VS. WILLIAM JEWELL
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2007
 
Team                   1          2          F
William Jewell    0          0          0         
McKendree          1          0          1

McKendree Goal –

Goalkeeper –
McKendree:   Liz Yanko (St. Louis, Mo./Rosati-Kain), 90 minutes played,12 saves
William Jewell:   Rebecca Ewing, 90 minutes played, 5 saves
 
McKendree is 14-2-2 overall, William Jewell is 15-2 overall