Nikki Polens (23) and Simone Keibler (7) scored within five minutes of one another. Photo by Sam Robinson
STATS
PITTSBURGH – Point Park University women's soccer is heading to the River States Conference Tournament finals for the third time in four years after a 2-1 win over Asbury (Ky.) University in a semifinal game Wednesday at Highmark Stadium.
Point Park (9-7-2, 6-2 RSC) scored two goals in the final 10 minutes of regulation to continue its post-season run.
The Pioneers secured the No. 2 seed and a first round bye to face the No. 3 Asbury Eagles (10-6-3, 5-2-1) in a rematch of the 2014 semifinals, in which Asbury defeated Point Park, 3-2.
Asbury also defeated the Pioneers in the 2013 conference finals to claim the championship title that season.
In the regular season, Point Park came away with a 1-0 win over the Eagles.
Today's game started out much like the regular season meeting between the two teams with a scoreless first half. A shot off the crossbar by Gabby Widman was Point Park's best chance to score in the first half.
Asbury's Logan Hall broke the scoreless tie in the 51st minute to put the Eagles up, 1-0.
Point Park ramped up its offensive push, but it began to look like time was running out for the Pioneers. A free kick by Izzy Hunter hit off the far post in the 65th minute, and the Asbury defense barely saved a shot of hers that would have gone in with 18 minutes left.
It was freshman Nikki Polens who tied the game in the 80th minute. Polens and Hunter were right in front of the net, and in all the confusion Polens chipped it in.
Five minutes later, senior Simone Keibler took a shot from 18 yards out and went top shelf over the goalkeeper's head for the game-winning goal.
Point Park out-shot Asbury 12-8 and held a 6-3 corner kick advantage.
Rebecca Cohen made three saves in goal for the Pioneers.
Point Park travels to Circleville, Ohio to face No. 1 Ohio Christian University for the River States Conference Championship Saturday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. Live video will be available at http://portal.stretchinternet.com/rsc.
You can follow all the action at riverstatesconference.com and on social media @riverstatesconf.
Follow the Pioneers on Twitter @PointParkSports and Facebook.com/PointParkSports.
