Palo Alto grad Alison Lu scored the lone goal in Williams College’s 1-0 victory over Hardin-Simmons on Friday in the semifinals of the NCAA Division Women’s Soccer Championships in Greenboro, N.C.
The Ephs (21-1-1) will play Chicago (22-1) for the national title on Saturday. Castilleja grad Julie Lodoen plays for the Maroons, who beat top-ranked TCNJ, 1-0, in the other semifinal.
Lu scored in the 85th minute, her 12th goal of the season, on a rebound from her shot. Liz Webber served a ball into the box. Lu re-directed a shot that a Cowgirl defender blocked with her back heel. The all shot back to Lu, who kicked it into the bottom left corner of the net.
“They’re incredibly organized and they put so many numbers behind the ball and do such a good job collectively defensively, that we really needed to switch the point of attack quickly and needed to press high,” Ephs’ head coach Michelyne Pinard told Williams’ website. “And we needed, honestly, a little luck today. When you put that many people inside the 18, the ball has to bounce exactly the right way some times. Luckily it bounced right on to Alison Lu’s foot and she put it away as she has so many times.”
Lodoen has appeared in 17 games for Chicago, scoring five goals. She recorded an unassisted goal in the Maroons’ 4-0 win over Wisconsin-La Crosse in the quarterfinals.
Chicago is appearing in its first national title game in 14 years.
By Palo Alto Online Sports
By Palo Alto Online Sports
By Palo Alto Online Sports