From Washington University Athletics
The No. 10-ranked Washington University in St. Louis women's soccer team won the 2016 University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship and gained the league's automatic bid with a 1-0 overtime win over No. 8 University of Chicago Saturday at Francis Field in St. Louis.
Senior Katie Chandler scored the game-winner in the first overtime on a break-away off an assist from freshman Taylor Cohen. The game-winning goal for Chandler was her sixth of the season, and fifth in conference play.
WashU improved its overall record to 14-2-2, 5-1-1 in the UAA, while Chicago dropped to 15-3, 4-3 in the UAA. The UAA championship for the Bears is their fourth in the last five years, and 11th overall.
Prior to Saturday's contest, WashU honored its six seniors – Chandler, Lizzy Crist, Megan Nicklay, Hannah Rosenberg, Allie Schiffman and Lexie Sprague. The third winningest class in school history, this group has helped lead the Bears to a 67-10-6 (.843) overall record in four seasons on the Danforth Campus.
Each team had numerous scoring opportunities in the opening five minutes of the contest. Crist had a diving save off a header by Madori Spiker in the second minute.
The Bears had a couple of chances in less than a minute span after Rosenberg's break-away was denied by Chicago goalkeeper Katie Donovan, and then Chandler's shot from inside the box went over the goal.
Sophomore Jessica Ridderhoff had the best scoring opportunity with 16 seconds left in the half after she got behind the defense for a breakaway but Donovan deflected the shot out of bounds.
Chicago outshot WashU 9-6 and had a 4-1 advantage in corner kicks in the first half. Crist made four saves.
Junior Megan Renken had a golden opportunity in the 76th minute when she was left open in the box, but her left-footed shot was knocked away by Donovan.
Crist (14-1-1) picked up the win in goal making five saves. The shutout for WashU was its 14th of the season.
Chicago had a 20-18 advantage in shots and 7-4 in corner kicks.
The 2016 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Selection Show will be streamed live on www.ncaa.com on Monday, Nov. 7, at 12:30 p.m. (CT). The Bears will be making their 11th-straight NCAA appearance and 16th overall.
BEAR NOTEBOOK: WashU leads the all-time series with Chicago, 16-11-2, and the Bears have won the last six meetings … Crist has not allowed a goal in 534 minutes, a span of six games … WashU has a 7-0-1 mark at home this year, and the Bears are unbeaten in their last 19 games at Francis Field … Wash is 4-0 this season against ranked teams … Chandler moved into a tie for eighth place in goals (33).