Behind a pair of goals late in the first half and a key insurance goal late in the second, the fourth-ranked Case Western Reserve University women's soccer team defeated 15^th-ranked Loras College 3-1 in the Round of 16 of the NCAA Division III Championship at DiSanto Field in Cleveland on Saturday afternoon.

Saturday's win assured the Spartans their best-ever national finish, as the team will now advance to the quarterfinal round to face either sixth-ranked William Smith or eighth-ranked Amherst on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at DiSanto Field.

CWRU came out on top of the battle of undefeated teams, improving to 18-0-1 overall and increasing its program-record win total. Loras ended its campaign with an 18-1-3 record.

While the Spartans controlled the run of play for a good portion of the opening half, the game remained scoreless until the closing minutes of the opening frame, when CWRU was finally able to break through for a pair of goals. In the 43^rd minute, graduate student Camryn Hartman got around the edge of the defense and drove toward the middle of the field along the end line before sending a cross on the ground in the box that was knocked into the goal by senior Aniya Hartzler for her fifth goal of the season. Hartman was credited with her eighth assist of the season.

Less than two minutes later, a cross from senior Merry Meyer found first-year Maggie Farra who sent a shot off the bottom of the crossbar and into the net for her fifth goal of the campaign. Meyer picked up her third assist of the year on the play.

CWRU finished the opening half with a 14-4 edge in total shots, including a 7-3 advantage in shots on goal.

The Duhawks were able to pull back within a goal in the 67^th minute of the game after Libby Perry headed in a cross from Erin Rieckens for her first goal of the campaign.

However, Hartman was able to add a goal late to help cement the Spartans' lead. In the 82^nd minute, a pass from first-year Jamie Goldfarb set up a one-on-one with Hartman and the keeper, which Hartman was able to convert for her team-leading 13^th goal of the campaign, while Goldfarb notched her third assist of the year.

Hartman's 13 goals are the third-most in a season in program history, while her 35 points are good for the second-most ever by a CWRU player. Her eight assists are tied for fifth. She finished the game with 10 shots, including seven on goal, and played all 90 minutes.

Junior goalkeeper Maggie Storti allowed just one goal and made eight saves, including one on a header by Ryleigh O'Brien in the eighth minute that kept the game scoreless, and another two in the 75^th minute off back-to-back shots from Hannah Schmitz and Abby Eriksen that kept the Spartans in front by a goal.

CWRU finished the game with a 25-11 edge in total shots, including a 15-7 advantage in shots on goal.