G-MAC Tournament Webpage

The Malone University women's soccer team earned a spot in the semifinal round of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Postseason Tournament after posting a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory on Saturday in its quarterfinal match at Cedarville University.

Defender Kaela Kovanda delivered the golden goal in the 98th minute on a free kick from about 25 yards out.  The junior launched a rocket shot that sailed just over the keeper's reach.  The ball bounced off the bottom of the crossbar then deflected off the post and ricocheted just across the goal line, sending the Malone bench into a frenzied celebration and cementing the program's first postseason victory since a 5-0 triumph over Notre Dame College in the 2006 NAIA Region IX/X Tournament Quarterfinals.

Malone, the G-MAC tournament's No. 6 seed, will now move on to face second-seeded Ursuline College in the semifinals on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. CDT).  Top-seeded Trevecca Nazarene University, located in Nashville, Tennessee, will host the G-MAC semifinals on Thursday and the finals on Saturday.  The G-MAC Tournament Champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Tournament.

Freshman forward Kirsten Hilty put Malone in front 1-0 in the 21st minute of Saturday's match, notching her third goal of the week and fifth goal of the season after collecting a rebound off the Cedarville keeper and depositing the ball into the net. 

The third-seeded Yellow Jackets found the equalizer in the 56th minute when Cedarville's Alyssa Maillefer scored off a nice through ball from teammate Hannah Atkinson.

The contest then remained deadlocked until the latter stages of the first overtime period when a foul called on a handball set up Kovanda's free kick.  The goal, Kovanda's first of the year, brought back memories from the 2015 regular-season finale against rival Walsh University.  Kovanda sent the Pioneers to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament after scoring the game-winner in the second half on a free kick from about 30 yards out.  Much like on Saturday, her 2015 shot against the rival Cavaliers also deflected off the bottom edge of the crossbar and into the net.

The Pioneers held a commanding 17-8 edge in total shots and a 12-5 advantage in shots on goal during Saturday's match. 

Freshman goal keeper Haleigh Seman made four saves to pick up the win in her first postseason contest.

Malone improved to 9-8-2 overall following Saturday's victory which marks the Pioneers' highest win total since the 2009 season.

Additional information about the G-MAC Postseason Tournament can be found by clicking the link above.  Stay tuned to www.malonepioneers.com early next week for additional details.