SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Gabby Tucker's first-half goal and a shutout from
Agnes Vilen sent Maryville women's soccer to the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Tournament championship match with a 1-0 victory over top-seeded and nationally No. 9-ranked Missouri-St. Louis on Thursday at Lake Country Soccer Complex.
Tucker scored in the 42nd minute off an assist from
Karla Krebs, and the Saints protected their lead through a late UMSL push that included a missed penalty kick in the 88th minute.
It is only the fourth time this season that the Tritons have been held scoreless, with the two shots on goal being the second fewest of the season by UMSL.
Maryville played with just two substitutes all game, with six players in the starting lineup playing all 90 minutes.
The No. 5 seed in the GLVC Tournament will play for the championship for the fifth time in the last six seasons.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Vilen made her first save just over two minutes into the match to keep the Tritons off the scoreboard.
Maryville offense began to churn midway through the half as strong midfield play kept the ball in Maryville's attacking half.
Anne van Son put the Saints' first shot on goal in the 25th minute, while Jaquelin Granados forced another save in the 38th.
The Saints finally broke through after consistent pressure in the 42nd minute. A long ball by van Son caught Krebs in stride who dished it to her left for a wide open Tucker with room to run. Looking for the go-ahead, Tucker put her foot on the pedal and slotted the ball back post for the eventual game winning goal.
Maryville carried the 1-0 advantage into halftime after outshooting UMSL 6-4 in the opening period.
Maryville looked to extend its lead after the break, with van Son sending a shot high in the 52nd minute.
Emily Doane had an attempt blocked in the 66th minute before
Allison Estanich followed with a powerful try that was just above the goal.
Fighting for the equalizer, the Tritons increased their pressure, recording eight second-half shots and four corner kicks.
Despite tired legs and physical play by UMSL, the Saints defense repelled the Triton's attempts, allowing just one shot on target, being saved by Vilen in the 86th minute.
Scrappy play in the UMSL attacking box saw Maryville get tabbed with a foul and gave the Tritons the opportunity they were looking for in the 88th minute, but the attempt sailed high and the saints held on for the upset.
Vilen finished with two saves in the shutout, while Maryville put three of its nine shots on goal.
FROM THE SAINTS
Head Coach Lori Lawson on the gritty victory over No. 8 UMSL…
"Oh my God, it's exciting. We knew coming into this game it was going to be a tough one. It was going to be a battle, and that, you know, we're playing the number eight team in the country. We're going to have to play a darn near perfect game… we knew we were going to need a little luck along the way, and we got that. But the team battled for 90 minutes. I mean, they were gritty, they were tough, they took physical risks in the game, and that's what we asked of them. Not perfection, but just that we compete for 90 minutes. Just really proud of the group."
Lawson on the short bench and overcoming the adversity…
"We've dealt with a lot of adversity this season. I think the season has prepped us for a big game like this because we know that, you know, crazy things happen, and we just have to keep our head up, and just keep fighting for one another. People are playing out of position. People are playing more minutes than they're used to. But we just keep — we just keep battling for one another."
Agnes Vilen on the defensive in the win…
"I mean, everything. The mindset, the hard work, like, everything. They [the defense] just did everything really, really well. They were battling. They were fighting 90 minutes, and they rode all the waves. They didn't let the pressure get to us, even if the game was very intense. They stayed calm. They stayed together. We played as a unit."
UP NEXT
The Saints advance to the GLVC Tournament championship match, where they will play for the conference title and an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.
