Alejandra Tavarez scored the game鈥檚 only goal in the 81st minute last Saturday to send visiting Indiana Wesleyan to the final site of the NAIA National Championships with a 1-0 second-round win over Cumberland at Lindsey Donnell Stadium.
Each team made pushes early in the game but it was the Phoenix who took the first shot on goal. On one of Cumberland鈥檚 better attacks of the game, Kadisha Martina dribbled the ball down the right wing and took a shot which was deflected out to Gabby Jones who smashed a shot from well outside of the box, though it was saved easily. Within the first 15 minutes, the Phoenix attempted three corner kicks and the Wildcats attempted one.
Looking at 1- minutes on the clock in what was a mostly non-momentous first half, Cumberland defended four corner kicks with ease and kept the score 0-0. Indiana Wesleyan on the flipside controlled the ball on Cumberland鈥檚 side of the pitch for what felt like the last 15 minutes of play.
Going into the half, the Phoenix and the Wildcats were tied at 0-0 as each keeper made several saves but neither team could make a great case that they played a better half than their counterparts. Both teams had six shots, three shots on goal, and four corners, showing how it was weighing up to be a very evenly distributed matchup at half time.
Eight minutes into the second half the Phoenix were inches away from the first goal of the match. Gabby Jones went on a great solo run across the right wing and delivered a cross into the box where Kadisha Martina had a shot which was saved by Avery Sluss.
Despite Cumberland making waves in the second half, doubling the Wildcats shot total, it was IWU who struck first. Tavarez subbed in late in the half and scored in the 81st minute of play after making a good run through the box and around two Cumberland defenders to take the lead 1-0 for the Wildcats of Indiana Wesleyan.
Indiana Wesleyan came away with the victory after scoring the late goal in the 81st minute and will advance to the final site of the NAIA National Championships.
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