SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- Notre Dame will play its first Ohio Independent Championships match Friday night when Cedarville comes to Korb Field – Brush High School for a 7 p.m. ET kick off.
Third seeded Ursuline (13-2-1, 2-0-1 OIC) opened the Ohio Independent Championships with a dominating 6-1 victory over fifth seeded Malone (3-13-0, 0-4-0) on Tuesday afternoon. Fourth seeded Cedarville (7-7-2, 1-3-0 OIC) defeated sixth seed Urbana (4-12-1, 1-3-0 OIC) 1-0 in the nightcap of the opening round.
No. 1 Notre Dame shutout Urbana 2-0 blanked Malone 1-0, defeated Cedarville 2-1 in double overtime. The Falcons concluded the regular season with a 1-1 draw with Ursuline. The Falcons finished in the AMC Semifinals after finishing third a year ago.
No. 2 Walsh blanked Urbana 2-0, defeated Cedarville 2-1 in overtime then shutout Malone 1-0 to earn the second seed. The Cavs have won four of their last five games and hold a 5-2-0 record away from Milazzo Field.
No. 3 Ursuline went undefeated against OIC opponents, shutting out Urbana 3-0 and Cedarville 1-0 and drew 1-1 with Notre Dame. The Arrows defeated Malone 6-1 in the quarterfinals to cruise into its semifinal against Walsh. Paige Rowan scored a pair of goals within 19 seconds of each other; however the story of the day, Jamie Grindle's three goals and assist secured the senior the programs all-time lead in goals (46), assists (18), and points (110).
No. 4 Cedarville dropped a 2-1 overtime loss to Walsh before a 2-1 double-overtime loss to Notre Dame before defeating Malone 2-1 in double-overtime. The Yellow Jackets were shutout 1-0 to Ursuline then blanked Urbana 2-0. Just eight days after defeating the Blue Knights, Cedarville hosted Urbana in the quarterfinals. Senior midfielder Sarah Brownfield's first career goal helped the Lady Jackets defended Yellow Jacket Field with a 1-0 win advancing them to play Notre Dame in the semifinals.
No. 5 Malone was blanked 1-0 by Notre Dame and Urbana before losing 2-1 in overtime to Cedarville then shutout 1-0 to Walsh. In the quarterfinal the Pioneers were defeated 6-1 by Ursuline for their worst loss of the season.
No. 6 Urbana was shutout by Notre Dame 2-0 and 3-0 by Ursuline, defeated Malone 1-0 before being blanked 2-0 by Cedarville. In its quarterfinal Urbana fell to Cedarville 1-0. The loss was the third straight shutout and the 11
th time the Blue Knights were held scoreless in 2011.
SEMIFINAL PREVIEWS
#2 Walsh vs. #3 Ursuline
Time: 5 p.m.
Site: Lyndhurst, Ohio (Korb Field, Brush High School)
Records: WU (13-4-0, 3-0-0 OIC), UC (12-2-1, 2-0-1 OIC)
Walsh and Ursuline face-off for the first time in 2011, last season the Arrows fell 3-0 to Walsh at Milazzo Field. The Cavilers seeded second hold an unblemished 3-0-0 record against OIC opponents however they didn't face the third-seeded Arrows of Ursuline College. The Arrows are in the midst of a historic season, setting program bests for wins (12), winning streak (10) and shutouts (10). The Cavilers have won four of their last five including a 1-0 win over Malone. Ursuline advanced to play Walsh by beating Malone 6-1 in the OIC quarterfinal on Tuesday.
Walsh
The Cavilers have played in eight one goal games including two overtime matches. Through those eight contests, Walsh has a perfect 8-0-0 mark.
Junior forward Carley Adams leads the Caviler attack with 10 goals, 21 points and 3 game winning goals. Lauren Jokovich has a team best 7 assists.
Senior goalkeeper Jill Zanney has kept opponents shutout in 5 games. The 5-foot-11 Brunswick, Ohio, native made 9 saves through 107 minutes of action to give the Cavilers a 1-0 overtime win against Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.) in their last regular season contest. Zanney also made 2 saves against NAIA No. 22 Houghton (N.Y.) in the Cavilers' 3-2 win.
Ursuline
After starting 1-2-0 Ursuline set a program record with 12 regular season wins, finishing 12-2-1. While setting the record for wins in a season they outscored opponents in those wins 38-2. The Arrows used a program best 10-game winning streak while outscoring opponents 26-2 to set the schools longest winning streak in any sport.
Senior Jamie Grindle became the Arrows all-time leader in goals (46), assists (18), and points (110) following Ursuline's 6-1 victory against Malone in the quarterfinals. In that match Grindle scored a hat-trick and provided an assist.
Sophomore midfielder Amanda Levaskevich leads the Ursuline attack. The Ravenna, Ohio, native has recorded 12 goals and eight assists. Two of her four game winning goals have come in one goal wins.
After giving up a season high four goals Sept. 2 in a 4-0 loss at Youngstown State, junior goalkeeper Rachael Smith set program records with 715 minutes without allowing a goal including record 7 shutouts.
#1 Notre Dame vs. #4 Cedarville
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Lyndhurst, Ohio (Korb Field, Brush High School)
Records: NDC (10-3-1, 3-0-1 OIC), CU (7-7-2, 2-3-0 OIC)
The Falcons and Yellow Jackets are meeting for the second time in 2011. In that game, Notre Dame's senior contest, senior
Katie Christensen netted her sixth goal of the year before assisting on the overtime game winner with 4:34 remaining in the second overtime period. For the Sandy, Utah, native Christensen who played Lacrosse for the Falcons, it marked her second senior game, game winning goal or assist. Christensen led the Falcons lacrosse to a thrilling 13-12 win over previously unbeaten Monroe (N.Y.) in the spring.
Notre Dame
In its first year as NCAA-II (provisional) members the Falcons have won 10 games with losses to NCAA-I Cleveland State (1-0), Indiana-Pa. (3-2), and WV Wesleyan (2-1).
Notre Dame has played in 10 one goal matches including four overtime games. The Falcons hold a 6-3-1 record such games.
Senior forward
Katie Christensen leads the attack with 8 goals, 4 assists, 20 points, and 4 game winning goals. The Sandy, Utah, native has scored or assisted in all four OIC contests (3 goals, 2 assists) including the game tying goal against No. 3 Ursuline, Oct. 26 in NDC's only draw, and scored and assisted in NDC's 2-1 overtime win against Cedarville, Oct. 12.
Sophomore goalkeeper
Kristy Kolschetzky is undefeated in OIC play earning shutouts against Urbana and Malone. The Mentor, Ohio, native has turned away both penalty kicks faced this season. The 5-foot-8 net minder saved the spot kick against NCAA-I Cleveland State in the Falcons 1-0 loss. Had 489 minute shutout streak snapped in 90
th minute against Cedarville in NDC's 2-1 overtime win.
Cedarville
Cedarville comes in (7-7-2) despite having to play three matches with Elizabeth Cox a field player in goal when both Yellow Jacket keepers were injured. The Yellow Jackets went 1-2-0 including an OT loss.
NAIA Hall of Famer John McGillivray is in his 38th season of coaching soccer at Cedarville. He had 215 victories with the men from 1974 thru 1997; and has 112 victories with the women from 1998 to present.
Senior forward Rachel Brownfield and Deanne Bradshaw lead Cedarville with 4 goals and 2 assists. Amanda Bunton has recorded