The Westminster women's soccer team will advance to the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Championship after Thursday's 3-2 semifinal win over Spalding University. The win brings the Westminster Blue Jays to 10-6-1 heading into the Championship game.
Junior goalkeeper Ellen Woolsey broke the career goalkeeper wins mark with this afternoon's win. She has accumulated 23 wins, breaking the 1998 record.
The Blue Jays trailed Spalding 1-0 after one half of play, but they came out strong in the second half ready to score. Senior Tayisah Pohtos scored just five minutes into the second with sophomore Abby Rockers' assist.
In the 57th minute, freshman Courtney Whitlock connected with the net off Pohtos' assist to take the 2-1 lead over Spalding. Spalding wasted no time knotting the game up at 2-2, scoring just three minutes later.
Whitlock scored her second goal of the game in the 62nd minute with an assist from freshman Kaely Fitterling to take the 3-2 lead.
The Blue Jay defense held Spalding from getting another shot off in the remaining 28 minutes, ending the game with the 3-2 victory.
The Blue Jay attackers outshot Spalding 15-10 with 12 shots-on-goal.
Woolsey (10-6-1) recorded five saves in the win. Woolsey and the Blue Jay defense held Spalding to seven shots-on-goal.
Westminster will make their second trip to the SLIAC Championship in program history, looking for their first NCAA Tournament appearance. The Blue Jays will play the winner of Thursday night's Webster/Greenville matchup. The time and location will be determined following that game.
