#8 Tartans Dominate #3 Hardin-Simmons But Come Up Short, 1-0, in NCAA Sectional Semifinal

(GENEVA, N.Y.) - The eighth-ranked Carnegie Mellon University women's soccer team dominated play against third-ranked Hardin-Simmons University on Saturday, November 18 in the sectional semifinal of the 2017 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship but were unable to finish any of its 17 shots, as the Cowgirls narrowly defeated the Tartans, 1-0.

The Tartans controlled possession and stymied the potent offensive attack of the Cowgirls, which has scored 108 goals this year, by limiting Hardin-Simmons to just six shots for the game. But only one mattered when Morgan McAdams curved a corner kick toward the net that was just over the arms of freshman Carolyn Botz (St. Louis, Mo. / MICDS) in the 77th minute. Kirsten Parrish was at the front post and prevented Botz from getting to the service that curved over the two and across the line.

The Tartans peppered the defense and Caitlin Christiansen in goal for the Cowgirls all game long and continued to press forward even after the Cowgirls went ahead late in the match. In the 87th minute, senior Alex Moy (Southborough, Mass. / Algonquin Regional) fired a shot off the crossbar and Christiansen saved a shot by senior Tori Iatarola (West Dundee, Ill. / Loyola Academy) 25 seconds later.

Iatarola and senior Haili Adams (Kirkland, Wash. / Juanita) each put two shots on goal while senior Sienna Stritter (Menlo Park, Calif. / Menlo School) fired off three shots, one of which was just high of the goal in the 12th minute.

The Tartans conclude the season with a 15-3-2 record in the program's sixth straight trip to the NCAA tournament and fourth appearance in the final 16.