SEWANEE, Tenn. –
Kate Thomson scored twice in the first half, both on assists from
Ashlyn Richards, and Sewanee added two more goals in the second period in a 4-0 victory over Rhodes College in the championship match of the SAA Women's Soccer Tournament here Sunday at Puett Field.
With the win Sewanee advances to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season. The NCAA Selection Show takes place Monday at 1 p.m. CT. Fans are invited to watch with the team on the new video boards in Juhan Gymnasium.
Thomson found the back of the net twice in a 15-minute stretch late in the first half and
Brianna Fee added to the lead less than 10 minutes into the second period.
Lily Reinhardtsen netted the final goal in the 71
st minute.
Rhodes controlled the run of play in the first 15 minutes, with Sophia Rall creating a pair of chances down the left side, crossing into the box for a shot by Mary Gale Godwin that was blocked and another that was cleared away by the Tigers.
Sewanee found its footing over the final 30 minutes of the period and the two senior backliners connected for a pair of goals.
Thomson headed in the first goal on a free kick by Richards at the back post in the 26
th minute after a foul near midfield. Thomson reached the ball just ahead of Rhodes goalkeeper Olivia Barfield.
Then in the 41
st minute, Richards delivered a corner kick to the back post for a header by Thomson that slightly ricocheted off a defender and into the back of the net for a 2-0 advantage at intermission.
Rhodes outshot the Tigers, 5-4, in the half but three of the four attempts by Sewanee were on-goal.
Mia Ramirez picked up a turnover and played a thru-ball to Fee at the 54-minute mark, with the ball deflecting off a Lynx defender. Fee ran onto the ball and fired a right-footed shot low and right, past a hard-charging Barfield.
In the71st minute
Olivia Fee's lofted ball hit a pair of Rhodes defenders and Reinhardtsen picked up the loose ball, flicking it into the net for the final tally.
