BOCA RATON, Fla. – The No. 5 seed Old Dominion women’s soccer team (9-5-4, 6-2-2 C-USA) fell in a hard fought battle to No. 4 seed LA Tech (14-2-5, 6-1-3 C-USA) by a 2-1 score in the Quarterfinals of the 2017 Conference USA Tournament at the FAU Soccer Stadium in Boca Raton, Fla.
The 2017 season goes down as the best ever in the C-USA for the Monarchs and the program’s best overall season since 2008. Wednesday marked the third straight C-USA Tournament appearance for Old Dominion (top eight of 14 team qualify).
“This group of players have been special for us, they have done really well and I have to say it was led by our seniors, they have been awesome,” said ODU head coach Angie Hind. “So you just feel for them at this point, as we are all certainly hurting right now. But I think to do what we have done this year and what we have achieved and all of the firsts that we have accomplished, it has been fantastic and I am super proud of these players and that’s why it is sad that it has come to an end a little sooner than we were hoping."
Iris Achterhof scored just before halftime in the 44th minute off a lob pass from Emma Gervase, which Achterhof settled and then struck with her left foot to the right side of the LA Tech net to give Old Dominion a 1-0 after the opening 45 minutes. The assist was the first of Gervase’s young collegiate career, while the goal was the third in as many halves for Achterhof.
A diving Krista Moisio save in the 47th minute kept the Monarchs in the lead, 1-0.
Nomvula Goale tied the match for LA Tech at 1-1 in the 61st minute.
Two minutes later, the Lady Techsters took a 2-1 lead off Jenna Dages’ 11th goal of the season, which proved to the game-winner.
The Monarchs took the second half’s only three corner kicks. Iris Achterhof and Natalie Johnson led the Monarchs with two shots each, respectively.