KISSIMMEE, Fla. – In the final game of pool play at the NCCAA National Tournament, the University of Northwestern Women's Soccer Team took the field against Warner University. The Eagles held their own through the opening 30 minutes, generating several dangerous chances but unable to convert. Warner capitalized late in the half with two goals and carried that momentum into the second, ultimately defeating UNW 4-0.
Northwestern controlled much of the first half and created multiple high-quality opportunities. In the 14th minute, the Eagles earned a free kick and maintained possession in a threatening area before creating their first look at goal. Naomi Meehan (Waconia, Minn./Homeschool) eventually collected the ball at the top of the box, cut to her strong foot, and fired a shot on target. In the 22nd minute, Briella Babcock (Byron, Minn./Byron) dispossessed a defender on the sideline and carried the ball into the box, attempting a chip over the keeper. Warner's goalkeeper managed to punch the ball away, sending it across the box to the feet of Marie Kendall (Dakar, Senegal/Dakar Academy), whose shot toward the open goal lifted just over the crossbar. Kendall continued to create chances throughout the half, intercepting a clearance and beating her defender before shooting a low shot that was pushed aside by the keeper. On the rebound, Haley Mersberger (Kiel, Wis./Elkhart Lake Glenbeulah) lurked, but was unable to get to the ball before a Warner defender cleared it away. Despite having only one shot in the first 30 minutes, the Royals struck in the 33rd and 35th minutes to take a 2-0 advantage. Warner finished the half with four more attempts as momentum swung in their favor.
Four minutes into the second half, Kendall again tested the goalkeeper with a long-range strike that forced a diving save. Warner took control from there, outshooting UNW 10-3 over the final 45 minutes. The Royals added their third goal in the 89th minute, finishing off a rebound from a free-kick set piece, and scored once more with 15 seconds remaining.
Northwestern finished the match with eight shots, five of them on goal. Kendall led the team with two shots on target, while Babcock, Mersberger, and Meehan each placed one. Sam Hansen (Cottage Grove, Minn./New Life Academy) recorded five saves in net.
Though the loss closes the Eagles' season, it does not overshadow all they accomplished. In Danny Brandt's first season with the Eagles, UNW won the regular season title with a 9-1-2 conference record, hosted and competed in the UMAC Championship, and earned an at-large bid to the NCCAA Tournament. This year's squad finished 2nd in program history in total shots with 481, 7th in goals scored with 52, 7th in points with 132, and 9th all-time in goals per game with 2.26.
Seniors Mersberger, Elle Bush (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji), Mallory Moseman (Woodbury, Minn./New Life Academy), Meghan Corbett (Sartell, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral), Madeline Hallberg (Princeton, Minn./Princeton), Julia Bradley (Rapid City, S.D./Stevens), Babcock, and Sophia Brenteson (Zimmerman, Minn./Spectrum) conclude their careers, leaving behind a legacy of work ethic, competitive drive, and faith in action. Congratulations to the Eagles on an incredible season and to the senior class on remarkable careers.
