MELBOURNE, FLA. -- For the second time in three years, the No. 6 Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Soccer Team are regional champions. The Bears scored the first four goals to cruise past No. 9 Catawba and into the NCAA Quarterfinal on the campus of Florida Tech on Friday afternoon.
Ria Acton scored twice and Florida native
Neve Duston had a goal and a pair of assists.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: No. 6
Lenoir-Rhyne 4, No. 9 Catawba 2
Records: No. 6 Lenoir-Rhyne (17-0-5) , No. 9 Catawba (19-3-1)
Location: Melbroune, Fla. I Rick Stottler
STATS OF THE MATCH:
- It was all LR from the get go. In the ninth minute, Evan O'Leary sent a corner into the box that found the head of Duston. Duston placed it in the bottom right corner, just past a Catawba defender as LR grabbed the early lead.
- 9:01 later, Duston and Anna Schuller set up a header from Regional Player of the Year Elin Hansson who put it in the back of the net for her 16th goal of the season.
- In the 26th minute, Duston's perfect pass found the right foot of Acton alone in the box who deposited it in for the third goal of the contest for the top-seeded Bears.
- Acton would then convert a PK as she drew a foul in the box and the Bears were up 4-0 in the 64th minute.
- The Indians would tack on a pair of goals in the later stages of the half to pull within two but LR sealed the win and the third regional title in program history.
- S.A. Phillips played all 90 minutes in net and made two stops to earn the win.
- The Bears held a 9-8 edge in shots and 5-4 lead in shots on goal. Catawba was whistled for 15 penalties to four by the Bears.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- LR beat Catawba to win the SAC Regular Season Championship, SAC Tournament Championship and NCAA Southeast Regional Championship this year.
- The Bears won 2-1 in the regular season finale to capture that crown and advanced on PK's past Catawba in the SAC Tournament title game before today's win.
- The four goals scored are the most scored in an NCAA Tournament game in program history.
- In the regular season game, LR jumped out with two goals in the first five minutes so the hot start today wasn't without precedent.
- LR is now 7-7-8 all-time in NCAA Tournament games.
UP NEXT: The Bears will take on the winner of Florida Tech and Nova Southeastern in Melbourne on Sunday at 3 p.m. The winner of that game will advance to the Final Four on Thursday.