DAYTONA BOUND!
Lady Coyotes capture Regional Title with 3-0 win over Park
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

The KWU Women's Soccer team poses with the NAIA Region IV Championship trophy after the Lady Coyotes' 3-0 win over Park

Heather Muilenburg scored twice in the second half to lead Kansas Wesleyan to its first ever berth in the NAIA Women’s Soccer National Championships with a 3-0 win over Park University on Saturday morning at Salina Stadium.

Wesleyan head coach Mike Dibbini implemented an up-tempo offense and rigid defense plan to keep Park’s top scorers Maria Ruiz and Laura Baeza off the board.

KWU faced an equally tough defense from Park that held the Lady Coyotes well below their 33.8 shot per match average at 16, but 11 of those were on goal, including three that found the net.

Janna Macy had the first crack at putting Wesleyan up in the fourth minute, but her shot was wide. KWU didn’t get another attempt to score until the 17th minute when Muilenburg got a ball off that was stopped by Park’s All-MCAC keeper Megan Newland.

Kat Benton, the hero in yesterday’s semifinal win over McPherson, got the Lady Coyotes on the board in the 20th minute. Benton took a pass from Macy at the left corner of the 18-yard box and dropped a shot over the head of Newland into the right corner of the net to put Wesleyan up 1-0.

Just four minutes later, Wesleyan had three more chances with three consecutive corner kicks, but were unable to capitalize on its set pieces in front of the goal.

Park had an equal chance in the 28th and 29th minutes with three straight corners, but Wesleyan’s defense was able to clear the ball each time. The Pirates’ best chance at a score came in the 31st minute when Ruiz went one on one against Wesleyan keeper Kelli Beatty, with Beatty making an outstanding stop.

Park (12-5-2) had one more chance with just under a minute in the half, when Ruiz again had an opportunity, but was again denied by Beatty.

Wesleyan (20-1-1) would add its second score of the match in the 54th minute by Muilenburg. Eliana Parada would dribble down the middle of the field, and find Muilenburg on the right side. Muilenburg would beat a defender and fire a shot into the net to put KWU ahead 2-0.

Muilenburg struck again in the 59th to blow the match wide open. After a Benton shot would be deflected out to the top of the box, Newland would come out to try to clear the ball, but Macy tapped the deflection to Muilenburg who chipped it in past the retreating Newland for the score.

Parada had a chance in the 72nd to add a fourth goal, but Newland would make a great save on the play.

Muilenburg led Wesleyan with four shots, three on goal, scoring twice. Benton, April Smith and Megan Couch would each add a pair of shots for KWU. Kelli Beatty went the distance in goal for Wesleyan, recording five saves for her second shutout in three postseason matches.

Dena Pires and Ruiz each had three shots for Park, who only took six all match. Newland went the distance in goal, tallying eight saves, while giving up three goals.

Kansas Wesleyan advances to the NAIA Women’s Soccer National Championships in Daytona Beach, Fla., beginning on November 14. Information regarding seedings and match-ups will be released from the NAIA next week.

-- KWU SI --