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Oaks into Final!!
Oakland City 2-0 Kentucky Christian College
First half goals by Chrissy Longest (New Albany, IN) and Emily Gries (Evansville, IN) powered the Lady Oaks to their first ever post-seaon victory, as they took on Kentucky Chrisitan College.
The Lady Oaks responded to the challenge to start quickly, having struggled to score against these opponents in their last two meetings, by hitting the cross-bar within the first five minutes. Danielle Hinton (Jeffersonville, IN) broke down the right and threw in a dangerous cross which the goalkeeper could only parry onto the bar before collecting at the second attempt under pressure from Longest. After weathering the early storm KCC began to push forward with some spells of controlled possesion. They enjoyed their best spell of the match but failed to create any real chances despite their territorial advantage.
With the Lady Oak defence holding strong the Oakland City midfield began to see more of the ball. With Lisa Seib (Evansville. IN) pulling the strings and Amber Kessler's (Washington IN) incisive running causing problems for the visitors they began to gain the ascendancy. It was the wing play of Gries and Hinton which created the most for Oakland City, however, and this was the root of the goal in the 21st minute.
Danielle Hinton found space down the left sideline this time and whipped a ball into the penalty area. The goalkeeper met the ball first but failed to hold it under pressure from Longest and when she dropped it Longest reacted first to sweep home the rebound.
Oakland City continued to press and were unlucky not to make it two early as Weldy made a number of important saves in goal for the Lady Knights. The Lady Oaks did make 2 with just over 5 minutes remaining in the first half, however, as Terri McCormick (Mt Vernon, IN) cleverly stepped over a Lisa Seib (Evansville, IN) near post corner for Gries to drive it home from the edge of the 6.
The Lady Oaks continued to press and were perhaps unlucky not to add to their lead in the second half.
"I was really pleased with the way we came out today. We hustled from the kick off, weathered a slight storm and then stuck to our game plan for a well-deserved victory" Coach Botterill said after the match, "Our wing play was great and our defenders coped easily with everything that was thrown at them."