MATTHEWS, N.C. — All it took was one shot.
And it was the same lethal duo that has carried the Lincoln Memorial University women's soccer through much of the season:
Thenia Zervas to
Jessica Cravero.
The junior found the Italian forward at the 70th minute mark and the rest was history as the fifth-seeded Lady Railsplitters took down the top-seeded, nationally ranked No. 8 Lenoir-Rhyne Bears, 1-0, in the South Atlantic Conference Tournament semifinals Friday in Matthews, N.C.
"I was very happy, excited, and it was unbelievable," Cravero said. "I just started to run and run to my teammates — everyone was happy, but we had to keep us calm and humble because there were still minutes to play! And again, assist by Thenia! Perfect ball! Now, focus on Sunday, ready to get the first place and another ring!"
LMU will head to the championship match for the second straight season and will face No. 2-seeded Wingate at 4 p.m. Sunday back at the Mecklenburg County Sportsplex.
The win marks the Lady Railsplitters (15-4) fourth straight over the Bears (15-3) — with a pair of those coming in the SAC Tournament semis — and it is the first time since 2007 women's soccer has earned multiple top-25 wins in the same season (Tusculum and Armstrong Atlantic). It also marks the highest ranked opponent (No. 8) LMU has defeated since that 2007 season with the other being No. 7 Tusculum on Sept. 19.
Cravero's shot was the lone one for the Lady Railsplitters, but it proved to be enough as the defense and goalkeeper
Emanuely Costa (11 saves) was tremendous en route to the Lady Railsplitters' sixth straight win.
"I thought we were outstanding today," LMU head coach
Sean Fraser said. "We prepared the girls this week on a game plan that gave away some possession but managed to control and contain LR. "Barring a five-minute spell in each half, I thought our players did us proud. The goal was a touch of class from two special players!! So proud of the team for applying a strict game plan."
Stay tuned to
LMURailsplitters.com, as well as LMU's social media platforms —@LMURailsplitter on Twitter, @LMURailsplitters on Facebook and @lmurailsplitters on Instagram — for complete coverage of the LMU soccer teams through the 2019 season.
