Webster Claims Women's Soccer Tournament Crown

ST. LOUIS - The Webster University women's soccer team will make its ninth trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament, and its first since 2009, after defeating Greenville Colllege, 1-0, for the 2012 SLIAC Championship. 

The Gorloks took care of business in front of a raucous home Soccer Park crowd, grabbing a 1-0 lead with 28 minutes remaining and not relinquishing it. After the teams had battled through a scoreless first half, Ally Nikolaus pounced on a Webster rebound and fired it in for her 11th goal of the year. She would later be named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

A near miss by Greenville at the 80:00 minute mark seemed to spark  the Panthers. Webster goalkeeper Jessica Davis came up with two huge saves in the game's waning minutes to preserve the win. The victory marked her 14th shutout of the season.

Webster had an 8-1 edge in shots in the first half, but Greenville had four shots in the second, several of them in the game's final 10 minutes. Greenville goalkeeper Heidi Koehl finished with three saves total for the game.

Joining Nikolaus on the All-Tournament Team were Webster's Ashley Mess, Whitney Scott and Davis. Greenville's Koel, Kelsey Panzau and Emily Wright also earned All-Tournament Team honors, along with Principia College's Gabriela Martin and Carlie Sanderude and Fontbonne University's Kim Carter and Kelly Lange. 

The Gorloks finished the season allowing only one goal in 10 SLIAC contests, eight regular season and two tournament games.  Webster has allowed only 10 goals in 21 games on the year.

Webster, which finished in a three-way tie for the regular season title, won its fifth St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Championship.  With the win, the Gorloks are 16-5 on the season and await word on whom and when they will be playing in the NCAA Tournament. 

Announcements for bracket seedings will be announced on Monday, November 5.

Courtesy Webster University sports information