DECATUR, Ala. - With detrimental weather and field conditions at Jack Allen Recreation Complex, the RedHawks fell 2-0 to unseeded Baker (Kan.) in the NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship Second Round.In the 11am tilt, MMC became the second ranked team in the tournament to suffer defeat to an unseeded squad, after first-seeded Concordia (Ore.) was downed yesterday by Hastings College.
The RedHawks outshot the Wildcats despite the loss, 19 to 12, as BU's keeper Maggie Dupes registered nine saves on all nine of MMC's shots on target. The first half was left undecided, though MMC's Daniel Sofer (Sophomore/Hadera, Israel) and Mor Efraim (Sophomore/Nevatim, Israel) both fired off shots that narrowly missed putting the RedHawks ahead.
Just a minute and six seconds into the second frame, Baker netted the go-ahead score when Ashley Ukena connected with Alix Schiraldi. MMC then gave up the insurance goal to Christine Janssens from Carly Dickens at the 68:45 mark.
The RedHawks close out the season with a 13-4-3 final record in their seventh consecutive NAIA National Tournament appearance , after earning their seventh-straight TranSouth Regular Season and Conference Championships. The loss completes the four-year careers of seniors Tatiane Alexio (Defender/Jundiai, Brazil) and Simone Souza (Midfielder/Sao Paulo, Brazil), who were the last remaining team members from the 2007 National Champions. MMC looks ahead to begin working towards another successful season in 2011.
