CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Mount St. Joseph women's soccer team will host the Hanover Panthers in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament semi-finals on Wednesday at 7:00 PM.
The Lions earned the leagues #1 seed and the right to host every game they play in the tournament after putting together an 8-0-1 record in HCAC play this season. The Lions are led into the tournament by an impressive group of seniors
Vivian Willis, McKenzie Schneeman,
Ella Pittman,
Kerigan Pollard,
Paige Adams,
Alondra Sotelo and
Jordan Schneider all play vital roles for coach Gallagher's group. Pittman leads a deep group of goal scorers that includes Pollard, her nine goals are second in the HCAC this season. Schneeman and Adams have dominated the middle of the field all season from their midfield positions. Willis and Sotelo lead a defensive group that has allowed only two goals in HCAC play all season, Schneider has helped the Lions to seven HCAC clean sheets.
Hanover secured a spot in this round after a quarterfinal victory over Anderson on Saturday, winning that game 2-1 at home. They earned the #4 seed in the tournament after a 6-3 HCAC record this season. They are led by a high level offensive threat in Beth Cook, who leads the league in every offensive category. Leading the HCAC in shots (97), shots on goal (62), goals (16), assists (12), points (44) and tied with Pittman with four game winning goals.
This is the second matchup of the season for these two squads, the Lions took the 2-1 victory back on October 16th. The Lions got on the board early as Schneeman found the back of the net in the 8th minute on an assist from Pollard. Hanover was able to tie the score going into the halftime break with a late penalty kick goal from Cook. The Mount dominated possession in the second half and finally found the go ahead goal in the 78th minute, as
Payge Callahan found the back of the net after an assist from Pittman.
In the the other HCAC semi-final #3 Transylvania, who defeated #6 Franklin on Saturday will head to #2 Rose-Hulman. Should the Lions win they will return home for the HCAC Championship match on Saturday at 7:00 PM.
