Posted: Nov 05, 2017

Gorloks Complete Perfect Conference Season With SLIAC Title

The Webster University women's soccer team completed a perfect conference season by winning the 2017 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Championship for the second consecutive year. This also marks the second straight year the Gorloks have run the table in conference play for both the regular season and tournament.

Webster, the top-seeded team in the 2017 tournament, hosted #2 seed Fontbonne University for the second straight championship game. The two teams played to a 1-0 decision during the regular season with the Gorloks walking away with the win. On Saturday night the two teams once again played a tightly contested game.

Webster tallied the only scoring needed in the game at the 23-minute mark when Melissa Kasper buried a shot from just inside the right of the box that cut across towards the left post of the net. Brianna Pagan assisted on the goal.

Moments later the Griffins had a pair of chances, forcing two corner kicks but have a one shot blocked and sending another wide. The Griffins struggled to find space in the first-half as the Gorloks placed defensive stalwart Elena Bloma on Fontbonne's top offensive threat Meredith Wendt. Bloma shadowed Wendt all across the field while also keeping Lily Brauer back to prevent any other Griffins from slipping behind the line.

Fontbonne came out with a new strategy in the second-half, attempting quick passes over the middle of the Gorlok defense to try and send Wendt and the other Griffin forwards free. Even with Bloma marking Wendt the Griffins still had chances to find an equalizer. The Griffins best chances came on set pieces but the majority of the free kicks were at a 30-yard range, giving the Webster keeper plenty of time to see the shots and plays develop.

Late in the game, Ellen Weaver weaved her way through the middle of the field only to be stopped by Aly Miller. Wendt finally found herself with the ball in the box with just over one-minute left but had her shot attempt blocked by the Gorlok defender.

Fontbonne keeper Makayla Hussong kept her team in the game by making seven saves, including several diving stops while Miller made five saves in recording the shutout for the Gorloks.

Webster improves to 19-1 overall and earns the SLIAC automatic bid to the NCAA Division III National Tournament. Fontbonne closes the season with an 11-10 overall record.

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