Columbia, Mo. - The Central Methodist Women's Soccer team punched their ticket to the Final Site with a 4-1 victory over UC Merced in the Second Round of the NAIA National Tournament Saturday afternoon in Columbia, Mo.
It marks the fifth time in the last six seasons the program has advanced to the final site.
The match was scoreless through halftime and the opening four minutes of the second half. Despite tallying six shots in the first half compared to three for the Bobcats, Central was unable to find the back of the net, as the score remained deadlocked at 0-0.
In the 50th minute from 20 yards out, the Bobcats scored on a ball that just slipped over the outstretched glove of Central goalkeeper Candela Blanco Esteban, putting UC Merced out in front, 1-0. It marked the third-straight in match in which the Eagles fell behind.
In the 68th minute Paula Castro sent a ball up field that found junior forward Kirstine Lykke with open space. Lykke dribbled around a defender and fired a shot off, which found the lower right corner of the net to tie the match at 1-1.
The go-ahead goal came less than two minutes later on a set piece. Freshman Larissa Ozorio sent the ball into the box which found the head of Jessica Meira for the score to put Central up 2-1.
Central's offense continued to provide pressure, and the third goal of the match came on a counter attack in the 82nd minute. A corner kick sent into the box by the Bobcats was headed out by senior defender Alicia Zamora to start the counter.
The Eagles maintained possession of the ball as Delia Letelier found Lykke upfield, who then dished the ball to freshman Mariana Barreto. Barreto took one dribble and slipped the ball past the keeper for the third goal of the match and her sixteenth of 2023.
Central iced the game less than five minutes later, as Barreto sent a cross into the box that found Lykke for the fourth and final goal of the match.
As a team, CMU finished the game with 13 total shots, including eight of them coming on frame. The Bobcats finished the match with 10 shots and seven shots on goal.
Barreto led the Eagles with three shots, while Castro, Lykke, and Lacey Ann Murray each tallied two.
Blanco Esteban picked up six saves against seven shots faced in a full 90 minutes of action between the posts. Her record now improves to 13-1-1 in 2023.
Central improves their record to 18-2-1 overall, and advance to the Round of 16. CMU will face Hastings Monday, Nov. 27 at 4:00 p.m. (CST) in Foley, Alabama. Live links for the match will be available on the women's soccer schedule page here.
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