Miess Goal Gives Ohio Wesleyan NCAC Tournament Title
Junior midfielder Ally Miess scored the game's only goal as Ohio Wesleyan edged Allegheny in the championship game of the North Coast Athletic Conference tournament on Saturday at Roy Rike Field.
The win gives Ohio Wesleyan its first NCAC tournament title since 2005, and gives the Bishops the NCAC's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III tournament. The NCAA Division III tournament bracket is scheduled to be released on Monday.
The game-winner came after Ohio Wesleyan had earned a corner kick in the Allegheny end. Junior midfielder Jessie Huschart sent the ball into the penalty area from the right side, and Gator keeper Emily Karr went up to make a play. The ball skipped off Karr's hands, however, and continued on toward the left post, where Miess was waiting to knock it home with 3:52 left in regulation time.
The Gators had a couple of chances to even the score in the closing minutes, but Dayna Rowe's drive was wide right with just over 2 minutes remaining, and after a Bishop foul with :12 to play, Allegheny had a restart about 25 yards away from the Ohio Wesleyan goal, but Kira Kliment's shot sailed just over the crossbar as the clock ran out.
Allegheny enjoyed the edge in play through most of the first half. The Gators had a 13-2 advantage in shots during the period, and Ohio Wesleyan did not put a shot on goal until the closing seconds of the period, when Karr made a routine save of a drive by sophomore midfielder Elizabeth Riggio.
While play during the second half was much more even, dangerous scoring chances were not plentiful. The Bishops' best opportunity came in the 85th minute, when senior forward Makinzie Krebsbach headed a crossing pass toward the Gator goal, with Karr grabbing the ball to keep the game scoreless.
Allegheny outshot Ohio Wesleyan, 21-8. Sophomore goalkeeper Hannah Zacharias finished with 5 saves in the Bishop goal, while Karr finished with 3 saves for the Gators.
