ATLANTA. – After securing an automatic invite to the 2023 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament with their Southern Athletic Association (SAA) title, the Centre women's soccer team (16-3-1) took on Washington & Lee (14-2-5) in the first round of the tournament on Saturday afternoon. After striking first, the Colonels held on to survive and advance their way up the bracket on a 2-1 final score.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
- W&L would churn their offense first in the contest, putting a shot in the bottom right side of the net within the game's first six minutes. Senior
Jonelle Barron earned another start as the Gold and White's protector, collecting a save on the Generals' shot attempt.
- Barron would earn another save in the 26th minute of action, and Centre would respond with the game's first score of a corner kick bounce straight to
Lydia Bowling. Bowling would send the deflection to the right side of the net.
- Centre would put up three more shots soon after compared to W&L's one, Barron collecting her third save of the half.
- The Gold and White would come out of the gates hot in the second half,
Mills Mullen put up the second-half's first shot with an on-goal to the bottom-center portion of the net. Mullen would get another attempt that would flash by the Generals' keeper, getting a great look from
Alexis Kronenthal for the Colonels' second score of the day.
- Washington & Lee would keep the contest tight with a late goal in the game's 78th minute.
- With 45 seconds left in the contest, the Generals' would take a shot that was aimed right alongside the top part of the goal. Barron would keep the opponent at bay to advance to the second round of the tournament, the senior finding another save to end the contest.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Saturday marks the fourth game in a row that the Colonels produced more corner kicks than their opponent in a single game, powering up the pressure in their tournament games.
- The Gold and White have kept a consistent offense in their postseason games, putting up double-digit shots in three of the last four games.
- Bowling's score in the first round of the NCAA Tournament isn't her first of late, Saturday's goal marking her third in the last five games (also having two assists in that span).
- Barron has been a fortress for Centre during postseason play, the senior collecting an average of four saves per game in the last three tournament contests.
UP NEXT
The Colonels are set to take on Emory in the next round of the NCAA Tournament, taking on the hosts on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 3 p.m. ET. The games will take place in Atlanta once again for the contest.
