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11/1/2009 - WOMEN'S SOCCER
Stetson Wins and Heads to A-Sun Semifinal
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Photo GalleryDeLand, Fla. - Natalie Simon (Lauderhill, Fla.) came off the bench to spark the offense and lead Stetson (11-6-2) to a 2-1 win over Campbell (9-9-2) in Saturday's quarterfinal game of the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship Tournament. Simon's relentless hustle led to her score the game's first goal, and then set up the eventual game-winner.
The A-Sun's back-to-back Player of the Year Tessa Gavilsky (Granite City, Ill.) picked up an assist on Simon's goal and then scored the eventual game-winner two minutes later.
After Stetson controlled the field of play for the majority of the first half, Simon's goal finally came in the 36th minute. Kristen Higel (St. Augustine, Fla.) started the play with a through ball to Gavilsky who stopped the ball with her chest, turned, and flipped it over the top of the defenders to Simon in deep. Simon made a move and drilled the ball past the keeper to put Stetson up 1-0. It was the third goal of the season for Simon.
Riding the momentum two minutes later, Simon was hustling for a scoring chance deep in the box and ended up creating a corner kick opportunity for the Hatters. Emily Ware (St. Petersburg, Fla.) ripped a perfect corner kick into the box that found Gavilsky. The league's top scorer blasted a header past the Campbell keeper for her 11th goal as well as her 29th and 30th points of the season.
After coming out of the break Stetson allowed a goal in the 57th minute, and then held on for the 2-1 win.
"A win is a win. The second half was not pretty, but it was effective", said Stetson Head Coach Julie Orlowski. "I have to give them credit. They could have given up but they didn't. Campbell did a good job of getting us out of our rhythm in the second half."
