WILDER, Ky. - Jessica Dotson’s unassisted goal at the 64:01 mark Saturday afternoon gave the University of Nebraska at Omaha women’s soccer team a 1-0 victory over Northern Kentucky University in the NCAA Division II national quarterfinals at the Town & Country Sports Complex.
Amy Price recorded the shutout as unbeaten UNO (21-0) earned its first-ever trip to the NCAA Division II Final Four and handed NKU (20-1-2) its only loss of the season. The Norse - ranked No. 1 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll - entered Saturday seeking their fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II Final Four, but the UNO defense limited NKU to just two shots in the second half.
NKU had several opportunities in the first half, but the Norse were unable to find the net. Kristen Noakes blasted a shot from 15 yards out that hit the crossbar and bounced away early in the opening half, and two other chances - one by Katie Hanck and one by Bessie Black - also were off target.
“We were fortunate to survive that first half, but once we did, our players knew they could win,” UNO head coach Don Klosterman said.
Dotson snapped the scoreless tie by dribbling through a pair of NKU defenders and blasting a kick from 18 yards out past Norse goalie Sam Westerling into the net.
NKU had one final chance to tie the match with 20 minutes remaining when Price left the UNO goal unguarded, and NKU’s Stephanie Sandfoss chipped a 25-yard shot over the goalie’s head toward the open net.
The shot, however, hit the right post and bounced out of bounds, and NKU was unable to threaten again.
“(NKU) is the best team we have ever played, and we have a great deal of respect for their program,” Klosterman said. “We came in here two years ago and they beat us 4-0, so we knew how good this program is coming in.”
Stephanie Sandfoss