WAUKESHA, Wis. – Mallory Koula scored with less than six minutes left to lift the Lawrence University women’s soccer team to a 4-3 victory over Lake Forest College in a Midwest Conference Tournament semifinal Friday at Schneider Stadium.
Lawrence (8-8-1) advances to play either Carroll University or Monmouth College at 5 p.m. Saturday in the championship game. The winner receives an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Koula, who picked up a hat trick in her second consecutive game, got the scoring started in what proved to be a see-saw match. Koula’s corner kick was deflected into the net to put the Vikings up 1-0 just 1:43 into the match.
Emily Weber tied it for Lake Forest (11-8-0) at 21:26, but Koula broke the tie early in the second half. She scored unassisted at 48:55 to give Lawrence a 2-1 edge. Natalie Jin then scored for the Vikings at 65:49 for a 3-1 lead.
Lake Forest battled back with goals by Erica May at 66:49 and Courtenay Raymond at 81:24 to tie it at 3-3.
Koula, working off passes from Sarah Ehlinger and CJ Kirk, scored at 84:10 to give Lawrence the lead for good.
Cassie Burke made five saves to pick up the win for the Vikings. Bri Schleibinger made two saves and took the loss for Lake Forest.
This is Lawrence’s first appearance in the MWC Tournament championship game since the Vikings beat St. Norbert College 1-0 to win the title in 2001.