ST. LOUIS – For the third-straight season, Maryville women's soccer is heading to the second round of the NCAA tournament as the Saints rallied to defeat the No. 7-seeded McKendree Bearcats 3-2 on a brisk Friday afternoon.
 
Lexi Gentry played hero for the Dawgs scoring not once, but twice in the final 20 minutes of play to edge out the Bearcats. Elsa Nilson-Hurtig etched her 11th goal of the season early in the first half, scoring in the 51st minute.
 
The Saints are now 3-0 in program history in the first-round of the NCAA tournament in the DII-era.
 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
After conceding the opening goal in the 20th minute to the Bearcats' Anna Stiffler, the Saints were on the back-foot. It took until the second half for the Saints to respond with the honor coming for Nilson-Hurtig.
 
 
Just as the game equalized, it was back in favor of the Bearcats who once again found the net, making it 2-1 McKendree in the 65th minute. Undeterred, the Saints continued to attack, with Maddie Dickerman pushing deep into the box, drawing a foul and penalty kick which Gentry hammered home to bring it to 2-2.
 
Gentry was not done playing hero ball there, as just ten minutes later – almost on the dot – she completed passes from Nilson-Hurtig and Allison Estanich, giving the Saints the lead with a clinical finish with eight minutes to play.
 
 
The defense locked it down from there as the Saints punched their ticket to the second round of the NCAA tournament.
 
UP NEXT
The Saints will battle the Grand Valley State Lakers in the NCAA Second Round Sunday, Nov. 24, at 1 p.m. at the Maryville Soccer Field.