Bonnie Ryan

Women's Soccer

Golden Eagles upend Mavericks to move onto semis

OMAHA, Neb. -- Fifth-seeded Oral Roberts scored a goal in both halves to post a 2-0 victory over fourth-seeded Omaha in the second quarterfinal of the 2024 Summit League Women's Soccer Championship Saturday at Caniglia Field. It marked the third straight year that the Golden Eagles would win a postseason match.

The Golden Eagles opened the scoring early when Lela Stark sent a cross into the penalty box that Samantha Guzman finished off for her team-leading seventh goal of the season in the 12th minute.

The Mavericks would only put one shot of their five shots on frame in the opening 45 minutes but it was stopped by ORU goalkeeper Alex Riefer.

ORU added to its lead 12 minutes into the second half when Stark doubled the advantage with an unassisted goal. It was her second of the season and marked the first multi-point game of her career.

Omaha's Grace Crockett was able to get off a pair of shots on goal after Stark's tally but Riefer again was up to the challenge, stopping both en route to her fifth shutout of the season.

Fifth-seeded Oral Roberts will play No. 1 seed North Dakota State next Thursday in a semifinal match to be played at 3:30 p.m. CT on the Bison's home field in Fargo, N.D.
 
Turning Point
  • Samantha Guzman finished off a cross from Lela Stark in the 12th minute and ORU never trailed after that.
Inside the box score
  • ORU held an 11-7 advantage in shots and the Golden Eagles put eight of those attempts on goal, forcing Omaha goalkeeper Mia Reedtz to make six saves  
  • The Golden Eagles scored both of their goals 12 minutes into the first and second halves
  • Stark posted her first career multi-point game, tallying a goal and assist in the win over the Mavericks
News & Notes
  • ORU will play in the semifinals for the third consecutive year and have now won a game in each of the past three postseason tournaments.
  • The Golden Eagles will play NDSU for the third time in the tournament and won the previous two meetings, a semifinal match in 2016 and quarterfinal match in 2022.
  • Omaha's loss means the Mavericks failed to make the title game for the first time since 2021.
  • ORU goalkeeper Alexa Riefer moved into a share of the league-lead by posting her fifth shutout of the season.
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