Box Score Box Score
Records
Upper Iowa (15-5-0) || Minnesota State (17-2-1)
Recap
The Upper Iowa Women's Soccer team scored the first goal of Friday's Semi-Finals matchup with Minnesota State, but the Peacocks couldn't find the back of the net again as MSU scored four unanswered goals en route to a 4-1 victory at home. The Mavericks victory will send them to the NSIC/US Bank Women's Soccer Tournament Championship, while the Peacocks' season is left up in the air. Upper Iowa will find out it's fate this Monday during the NCAA Regional Tournament Selection Show.
Mackenzie Taldone helped the Peacocks strike first blood with a goal in the 38th minute of action thanks to a perfect pass from
Brianne Fenton. The youngest Taldone collected the ball on the left side of the net from 11 yards out and fired toward the back right post. She hit nothing but net and her goal gave the Peacocks an early 1-0 lead.
For Taldone, it was her third goal of the season and her first collegiate postseason goal. The Peacocks took that 1-0 lead into halftime riding a wave of momentum.
In the chilly Minnesota climate, reminiscent of the previous matchup between these two teams, the Mavericks got surprisingly hot in the second half. In the 51st minute, MSU found some rhythm on offense as Korey Kronforst dished to Courtney Vallarelli who netted her fifth goal of the season to tie the game at 1-1.
The Peacocks regrouped, but less than 14 minutes later, Vallarelli created another goal for her team. She earned an assist as she found Emily Moris in front of the net for a header and the go-ahead score. It was Moris' fifth goal of the season and it opened up the game. In the end, it was the game-winning goal and it completely changed the momentum of the game.
The Mavericks – with their second half comeback not over yet – quickly added to their lead. Again, it was Vallarelli who this time earned her second goal of the day as she cleaned up a mess in front of the Peacock net. A posse of Maverick players took shots, but Emanuel made back-to-back saves before MSU's third shot was blocked. The ball landed at Vallarelli's feet and she quickly slammed it home to an open goal.
MSU didn't let off the gas just yet though. The Mavericks added another insurance goal from Jessica Bowe to seal the 4-1 victory at home and advance to the championship game on Sunday.
Friday's loss marked the Peacocks' third consecutive loss in the semi-finals.
Sounding Off
Head Coach Brian Diaz After the Game...
On the Loss…"We had a great first half and for thirty minutes of the first half again, I thought we were the better team," Diaz said. "We got the goal and went up, 1-0 going into halftime. But honestly, their coaches' halftime adjustments were better than mine – that's what it came down to. We fought hard until the end, but they just made good adjustments to what worked for us in the first half."
On the Season… "It was a disappointing ending, but hopefully we've done enough to get into the national tournament. We'll have to wait until Monday for that, but it's out of our hands at this point. After the game, we talked about how great this season has been. Obviously, it was a disappointing end, but hopefully it's not over just yet."
On the Peacocks' Lone Goal… "
Lauren Rohrmeier chased down a loose ball and served it into the box.
Brianne Fenton touched it to Macky who tucked it over the keeper to the post from a good distance away. We had been pressing them for some while and that was the result of a good build up."
What's Next
The Peacocks will wait to hear if their season will continue in the central regional tournament on Monday when the NCAA releases its brackets.
