Racers Claim Spot in WHAC Championship with Win Over SHU

LIMA, OH - UNOH women's soccer scored three second half goals to down Siena Heights 3-1 Saturday afternoon and advance to the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) Final next week.

The Racers dominated possession in the first half but the Saints packed in their defensive third and held UNOH off the board over the first 45 minutes. That trend continued into the second half but the Racers began to create some space on offense and eventually got the payoff in the 60th minute.

After Camila Rico broke down the backline with a perfect through ball, Risa Nishida found herself one-on-one with the keeper. As Nishida attempted to side step the keeper, she was take down in the box resulting in a yellow card for the Saints' goalie and a penalty kick for the Racers. Nishida stepped up to the spot and slotted the ball right down the middle as the keeper dove out of the way putting UNOH on top 1-0.

Less than two minutes later, the WHAC's Offensive Player of the Year doubled the lead from distance. Mathilda Berg Karlsson rocketed a long cross from the left wing that floated over the keeper towards the far post. The Saints' keeper made an attempt at the intial ball but couldn't reach it as it richocheted off the inside of the post, back off her and into the net.

The Racers bagged their final goal of the day off a second penalty kick in the 74th minute. Celia Catalan Keck threaded the ball through to Rico cutting into the box. The keeper came crashing out but Rico was first to the ball drawing heavy contact again and setting up a second spot kick. The keeper guessed right this time but Rico still squeezed the ball past her glove and inside the post for a 3-0 lead.

With just 23 seconds remaining, Siena Heights finally got one goal back, but it meant nothing in the grand scheme of things as UNOH finished off a 3-1 in the WHAC Semifinals.

The opposite side of the bracket pitted two-seed Lourdes againts three-seed Aquinas with the Saints scoring the only goal of the match in the 13th minute setting up a showdown between the only two tournament champions over the past four seasons. 

UNOH will host the WHAC Championship match against (RV) Aquinas on Wednesday, November 12 with a chance to avenge their only conference loss of the year.