No. 1 WashU Women’s Soccer Makes it Back-to-Back NCAA Titles with 2-1 Win Over No. 2 Emory
The No. 1 Washington University in St. Louis women's soccer team won its second-straight National Championship on Saturday afternoon with a 2-1 win over Emory. It is the third national title in program history, all under Head Coach Jim Conlon.
The win also marks Conlon's 500
th career victory and the Bears finished the year without a loss at 21-0-3. As a department, it marks WashU's 28
th national title and the first back-to-back titles for a Bears' program since men's basketball in 2008/2009.
"These women have done a great job of being sisters for each other and what a way to end it! I'm happy for them," said Conlon.
First-year Monica Morales-Martinez, sophomore Cami Colpitts, sophomore Kassidy Lanthier and junior Sophie Viscovich were all named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team. Sophomore Olivia Clemons was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Offensive Player for the second year in a row.
The Eagles scored first, taking a 1-0 lead in the 22
nd minute as Madison Teng took a pass from Kaitlyn Nimmer and fired a high shot into the left corner.
The Bears scored the equalizer 22:10 into the second half as Clemons played a short pass to Morales-Martinez, who fired the ball into the top right corner for a 1-1 game.
"That goal was pretty memorable," said Morales-Martinez. "The journey we took to get here was so much deeper than anything I could have ever imagined. The extra runs we do in the weight room, that all just pays off. Kudos to my teammates who I could not do it without, they are the best people in the world."
Less than two minutes later, Colpitts found nearly the same spot in the net, drilling the ball from the top of the box to make it a 2-1 game. From there, the Bears' defense locked the Eagles down and did not allow solid chances at tying the game.
The Bears out-shot the Eagles 21-4 including a 8-2 advantage for shots on goal. WashU amped up the offense in the second half, registering 14 shots. WashU also had a 6-2 edge in corner kicks.
Viscovich and Clemons both recorded five total shots with two on goal while senior Grace Ehlert and Colpitts each had three total with one on goal. Lanthier finished the game with one save to earn the win in the net.