WICHITA, Kan. – In a defensive slugfest that produced a scoreless draw through 110 minutes, it was Friends University goalkeeper Nia Baker that came through with the clutch stops to allow the Falcons to advance past the top-seeded and No.7-ranked Oklahoma University Eagles on penalty kicks and into the KCAC championship match tonight (Nov. 8) at Scheels Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita.
With a championship berth and her own career on the line with each shot attempt, Baker stepped up and stopped four of six penalty kicks in the shootout against the top-ranked scoring team in the KCAC.
Lauryn Erickson, Elisa Murrietta and Anahi Ibarra-Arevalo each put in successful penalty kicks against the nation's leading GAA leader Carlota Alcalde to give the Falcons a winning 3-2 margin in the shootout and claim their second consecutive KCAC title game berth.
"That's a special moment for this group," Friends women's soccer head coach Brent Hobson said. "Izzy says this all the time, God put us all together for a reason. The way they competed, played and stuck together was incredible. It's a huge team win that gives us another opportunity to play together Wednesday. So many players to recognize but what a performance from Nia Baker, she lives for these moments."
While Baker saved her best for last, she was also consistently brilliant through regulation and the two overtime periods, stopping seven shots to keep the Eagles off the board and preserve the clean sheet.
Alcalde finished with three saves for OKWU (16-0-4), who has already earned an NAIA National Tournament berth thanks to winning the regular season KCAC championship.
The Falcons (13-5-2) will now face York University for all the marbles Wednesday afternoon (Nov. 13) at 4 pm, also at Scheels Stryker Complex. Friends bested the Panthers 1-0 at home on Senior Day (Oct. 19) behind a goal from Keily Larosee in the 70th minute of action.
"We're all thinking of Faith (Smith), she had to get stitches at the hospital for a nasty cut," said Hobson. "She played her heart out and we're all thinking about her. Shoutout to our alumni, I definitely feel that win goes to people who have built this program up."
