Women's Soccer | 11/4/2011 8:25:00 PM
Box Score Box Score
McPherson, Kan. – Junior midfielder
Rachael Cornell (Colorado Springs, Colo.) posted her first career hat trick to lift the McPherson College women’s soccer team to a 3-1 win over Bethel College in the quarterfinal round of the KCAC tournament on Friday evening at McPherson Stadium.
With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 10-8-1 overall and advance to face the No. 2 seeded Ottawa University in the semifinals. Bethel falls to 6-12-0 on the year.
In the first half, McPherson cracked the scoreboard in the first minute when Cornell received a ball inside the six-yard box off a throw from freshman
Geneva Gray (Littleton, Colo.). The ball took a bounce over two defenders and landed at Cornell’s feet before she punched it in the back of the net to give MC the 1-0 lead.
Cornell added her second goal in the 48
th minute to extend the Bulldog advantage to 2-0 early in the second period. Junior defender
Amber McKinnon (Littleton, Colo.), who played a threw-ball directly to the feet of Cornell, assisted the score.
However, Bethel refused to roll over, as the Thresher cut the MC lead to 2-1 in the 66
th minute on a goal by Caryn Welch. Despite the swing in momentum, McPherson regained their composure and eventually put the match to rest in the 85
th minute when senior midfielder
Stachea Perea (Colorado Springs, Colo.) found a streaking Cornell who took a pair of touches before slotting the ball past the diving goalkeeper.
Overall, McPherson outshot Bethel 17-6 in the match, and had a 5-2 edge in corner kicks. Sophomore goalkeeper Tori Verdieck earned the victory with two saves in 90 minutes of action.
McPherson returns to the pitch on Tuesday, Nov. 8 when they travel to Ottawa University. The semifinal round contest is scheduled for a 7 p.m. (CT) kickoff at People’s Bank Field.
