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Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference
WSOC: Aquinas Advances to Round of 16 with 4-0 win
Posted: Nov 23, 2024

WSOC: Aquinas Advances to Round of 16 with 4-0 win

By: Cam Harper - Aquinas Director of Athletic Communications

Grand Rapids, Mich. – For the second consecutive season, the Aquinas women's soccer had the privilege of playing the NAIA National Tournament Second Round on the AQ Athletic Field. The Saints faced off against the Bulldogs of Concordia-Nebraska (CUNE) on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 23) after the Bulldogs upset Benedictine on Thursday (Nov. 21). The No. 5-rated Saints entered the game as the favorites to advance to the final site in Pensacola, Florida after having reached the final site in each of the previous three seasons.

AQ managed to extend that streak to four years in a row after showing out in front of its home crowd. Aquinas found the back of the net three times in the first 20 minutes before adding one more goal in the second half for a 4-0 victory. Not only was AQ incredible offensively, but the Saints' typically stout defense was impenetrable once again, holding CUNE to just two shots all game.

Aquinas' 13th clean sheet of the season takes Aquinas to the round of 16 in Pensacola, starting on December 2nd.

#5 Aquinas 4, Concordia-Nebraska 0

It did not take long for the Saints to break through the Bulldog defense. Just five minutes into the game, Maeva Lichtensteiger found Marie-Louise Abild with a beautiful through ball, putting Abild past the CUNE backline and allowing the senior to calmly slot the ball past the keeper for a quick lead.

One goal because two in the 13th minute on a play that started with Sydney Shenk running down the right wing. Shenk sent the ball into the box, finding Savannah Reese on the edge of the box. Reese chipped the ball and floated the ball up and over the keeper to extend the lead.

The offensive outpouring continued in the 19th minute. A Concordia mistouch allowed Reese to take control of the ball in the attacking third. Reese played a nearly perfect pass to Shenk down the left wing, who then sent a pass across the box and found Abild on the receiving end for her second goal of the game.

AQ's scoring slowed down for the remainder of the half, but the Saints continued to dominate possession of the ball. The Bulldogs continued to try to play the ball out through the backline. However, Aquinas' swarming midfield and defense continuously gave CUNE trouble. Aquinas held the ball on Concordia's half of the pitch for nearly the entire first half, resulting in a 3-0 lead at halftime. Concordia did not manage a single shot throughout the first half and only pushed the ball past the midfield line a handful of times.

The fourth goal of the game came early in the second half. Olivia Bowling intercepted the ball near Concordia's box. Reese picked up possession and sent the ball to Shenk, who played a gorgeous one-touch pass onto Abild. Abild took the ball into the box and slotted the ball back over to Shenk, who tapped the ball into the net, giving CUNE's keeper no chance to make a save.

AQ had a couple more scoring chances, including a nice shot from Brittney Probst. However, that shot unfortunately went at the keeper to keep Aquinas at four goals.

The Bulldogs also made better use of the long ball, finding their star striker in a couple of dangerous positions. Concordia put a pair of shots on target as a result of those plays, but Kayla Shuk was there both times, including a very nice one-on-one save in the 63rd minute.

Ultimately, the game came to a close with the score still at 4-0, giving Aquinas its 17th win of the season and advancing the team to the round of 16.

By the Numbers

  • Abild ended the game with two goals and an assist, setting a career-high in goals for the senior. Abild currently has 10 goals and 14 assists this season.
  • Shenk finished the contest with a goal and two assists, giving her 17 goals and seven assists this season.
  • Lichtensteiger increased her team-leading assist total to 16, while Reese earned her third goal and second assist of the year.
  • This is the fourth consecutive season that the Saints have advanced to the final site round of 16.
  • This is the first time that Concordia-Nebraska and Aquinas have faced each other.


Up Next

Aquinas will learn of its round of 16 opponent following all of the games today. The final-site games will begin on December 2nd down in Pensacola, Florida.