CLEVLAND, Ga. (Nov. 9, 2019) – The Truett McConnell University women's soccer team, who is receiving votes in the latest NAIA national top 25 poll, defeated the No. 4 seeded Milligan College 3-1 on Saturday afternoon at the TMU Soccer Complex in the Appalachian Athletic Conference Semifinal Round. The Lady Bears also won 3-1 the last time the two teams met in September.
 
The AAC Regular Season Co-Champions improved to 17-2 on the year and will now face fellow regular season champion, No. 2 seeded Tennessee Wesleyan University, whom they shutout in the regular season 2-0. The game is set for Friday, Nov. 15 and the kickoff time is to be determined.
 
It only took five minutes for the Lady Bears to put themselves up on the scoreboard first. Lydia Williams, the 2018 AAC freshman of the year, received a through ball from Jasmin Lanuza which allowed her to finish just outside the six (1-0). Jessica Lanier gave TMU a two-goal cushion in the 21st minute with her first header of the day on a perfectly placed cross from the right wing into the box by Mackenzie Taylor (2-0). Five minutes later, Lanier found the back of the net with another header on Tori Wilson's free kick (3-0).
 
With 1:10 to go in the first half, Milligan was capable of scoring their lone goal on a free kick to make it 3-1 at the half. Nonetheless, neither team could score in the final 45 minutes of regulation. TMU outshot the Buffs 8-4 in the first half and 7-4 in the second, which featured a missed penalty kick that went wide by Williams.
 
Individually, Williams led with five shots, three on target, while Lanier followed with four, two on goal. Sophomore Hope Foster recorded five saves on the day.
 
After Friday's championship game, the Lady Bears will wait to see where they will be playing in the opening round of the NAIA national tournament. The NAIA selection show in Monday, November 18.