Friday, November 03, 2006

KENNESAW, Ga. – Kelly Kuenning's second half goal was all Stetson would need as the Hatters defeated Gardner-Webb, 2-0, in the semifinals of the 2006 Atlantic Sun Conference Women's Soccer Championships at the KSU Soccer Complex on Friday afternoon.

Stetson (12-7-1), the tournament's No. 2-seed, advances to the championship match on Saturday evening where they will play either top-seed Kennesaw State or No. 5-seed Jacksonville. The appearance will be the first-ever A-Sun championship match showing for Stetson.

Kuenning scored the game-winner in the 61st minute when she ripped a 25-yard blast past Gardner-Webb's diving goalkeeper Sarah Wyszynski into the top right corner.

The Hatters would score their second goal of the match with just one second remaining as Kuenning grounded a shot that was saved by Wyszynski. The rebound went to Sarah Stock who dropped a pass to Kuenning who tapped the ball into a vacated net before time expired.

Gardner-Webb (9-8-3) put mild pressure on Stetson in the second half with Lindsey Gladhill and her sister Kasey each grounding shots on April Eilering in the 60th and 80th minutes respectively. Eilering, the A-Sun career shutout leader, recorded the first shutout of the tournament and finished the match with six saves.

Things weren't easy for Stetson as the No. 6-seed Gardner-Webb, controlled the pace in the first half. Lindsey Gladhill nearly missed putting the Bulldogs on the board first as a shot midway through the first half was inches over the crossbar.

Stetson outshot Gardner-Webb, 16-11, in the match with the Bulldogs holding a slight advantage, 5-3, in corner kicks.

Release courtesy of KSU Athletic Communications