Women's Soccer | 11/12/2016 4:36:00 PM

Box Score Box Score l Updated Stats

SPRINGFIELD, OH – Senior Michaela Soules scored a goal and added an assist as Nazareth defeated host Wittenberg University 2-1 Saturday in First Round action of the NCAA Tournament.  With the win, Nazareth will face off against Penn State Berks at 1 p.m. on Sunday for second round action.  Penn State Berks defeated Carnegie Mellon 3-1 in its first round match.

Nazareth improves to 15-3-2 with the win, while Wittenberg falls to 13-5-2 overall.

The Golden Flyers got on the board in the 53^rd minute with a combination play through the midfield.  Jessica Barden received a ball in the center and played a streaking Soules down the left side.  Soules only had the keeper to beat, sliding it into the far post with her left foot.  It was Soules' third goal of the season and Barden's first assist.

Jessica Byrnes put a shot wide of net past the charging keeper in the 69^th minute.

Just a minute later, the offensive pressure paid off for the Golden Flyers.  Soules played a diagonal ball to Jordyn Ruston on the right side.  Ruston took a few touches and beat the keeper with a shot from the 18-yard box to make it 2-0. 

The Tigers put on heavy pressure towards the end of the game, eventually  breaking through in the 76^th minute off a corner kick.  Emily Thomas found Jordyn Wright for a header to bring the hosts within 2-1.

Wittenberg had a scoring chance cleared off the line from Sarah Conroy in the 80^th minute.  Shortly after, the Tigers appeared to tie the game off a throw-in, however the goal was waved off as the flip throw from Leah Soutar was not touched by a field player before going into the net.

A similar chance came off a flip throw late in the game with Dobles popping the bouncing throw off the crossbar before it was cleared away.  Dobles finished the game with eight saves in net.

Neither team scored in the first, although each generated solid scoring chances.  Julia Delgatti intercepted a pass at midfield in the 10^th minute, dribbling all the way to the 18-yard box, before firing a shot wide of the net.

Nazareth had another scoring chance in the 34^th minute as Mary LoCicero played a ball from 20-yards out to the six-yard box that just missed the foot of Soules. 

The Tigers best opportunity of the half came in the final minute off a corner kick.  Nazareth's near post defender blocked a header and then Dobles saved a point-blank shot off the rebound to keep it scoreless at the half.