(taken from the Rhodes College website)
SHERMAN, Texas - The #17 ranked Rhodes women's
soccer team defeated Austin College by a score of 3-0 and clinched
at least a share of the 2008 SCAC Women's Soccer Championship Title
and the SCAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Rhodes got
goals from Kara Purdy, Cat Rickenbacker and Lizzie Wright to secure
the win and earn the program's first ever NCAA Tournament berth.
Coming into the match, the stingy defense of Austin College had only given up eight goals in 2008 and allowed no more than 2 to any single opponent. Rhodes opened the scoring when senior forward Molly Buss crossed a ball that senior midfielder Kara Purdy headed toward the Austin goal. The Roos' keeper saved the initial shot but deflected the ball into the air and Purdy headed the ball into the net on her second attempt to put the Lynx up 1-0.
With less than 5 minutes remaining in the first half the Roos' sent a ball over the Lynx defense and a battle for the ball ensued between Rhodes' junior goalkeeper Becca Clarin and the onrushing forward from Austin. The ball deflected off Clarin's arm and the referee, judging her to be the last defender, sent Clarin off. Rhodes found themselves playing with 10 players for the second time in 2008 the first coming in the 1-0 win over Centre College on October, 10 when senior forward Melanie Sharry was sent off during the second half.
The Lynx came out in the second half expecting to protect their lead with 10 players but were fortunate to continue their attack. Three minutes into the second half the Lynx earned a corner kick. Molly Buss served the ball into the Roos' penalty area and freshman midfielder Cat Rickenbacker headed the ball home to give the Lynx a 2-0 lead.
In the 62nd minute the Lynx were threatening the Austin goal when a defender cleared a ball outside of the penalty area. The ball fell to senior defender Lizzie Wright who fired a left footed shot from 30 yards out which beat the Roos' keeper to the far post and gave Rhodes their 3rd and final goal of the match.
Freshman goalkeeper Stephanie Sermonet took over in the net when Clarin was sent off to help preserve the shutout. Both she and Clarin would have to work for the shutout narrowly escaping three superbly taken freekicks by the Roos' Helen Heres which banged off the woodwork in each case.
Rhodes improves to 13-3-1 in 2008 and 7-1 in SCAC play. Rhodes will face SCAC opponent Birmingham Southern on Friday, November 7, 2008 at 12:00pm in Memphis and then will bid a fond farewell to 8 seniors on Sunday, November 9, 2008 at 2:00pm against Millsaps College.
The Lynx now hold a one game advantage over their closest SCAC competitors with two games remaining in the 2008 regular season - Birmingham Southern is serving their provisional term in NCAA DIII play having dropped down from DI in 2007 and the game will not affect the 2008 SCAC standings. The game advantage ensures at least a share of the 2008 SCAC Championship and the Lynx' game against Millsaps will determine whether the Lynx share the championship or own it outright. With the Lynx holding the head-to-head advantage over all of their would-be co-champions they have clinched the SCAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Championship Tournament.
Rhodes won the first-ever SCAC championship in 1991 and have not won the title since. The NCAA Tournament berth is the first in the program's history. Rhodes has been ranked as high as #10 in the NSCAA/adidas National Poll during 2008 which is also a program first.
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