WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Two-time defending national champion Keiser defeated College of Idaho 3-0 on Thursday morning in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round.
The Yotes (14-7, 9-3 CCC) conclude the season tied for the school-record for wins in a single campaign after making a trip to the Cascade Conference Tournament title game and earning the second trip to nationals for the program in school history.
Senior goalkeeper
Shae Waters kept the Seahawks (15-2, 9-0 SUN) at bay for the most part in the first half, seeing 13 shots fired her way and making four saves. The efforts for Waters were highlighted in the 35th minute when she made an incredible diving stop of a Kyoka Koshijima shot that resulted after a beautiful cross from Maja Henriksson. Waters finished the day with five saves.
In the win, the Seahawks scored first in the 24th minute after Larissa Weber slipped a pass over to Ramona Kannady to make it 1-0 Keiser.
The Seahawks would be held scoreless for the remainder of the first half before finding the net 62 seconds into the second half on right-footed blast by Koshijima into the back of the net. Nohara Takayama received credit for the assist.
Up 2-0, Keiser tallied their final goal of the day in the 86th minute when Kannady scored her second goal of the game after winning a 1-v-1 battle.
C of I generated a trio of dangerous plays on the attack that put the Seahawks on their heals on Thursday.
In the 22nd minute,
Lily Schlake slid a pass up to
Larissa Wegner who took the ball into the box where she got tangled up with the defender with no foul called.
Later, in the 44th minute,
Chloe Teets launched a free kick from around 40-yards away that sailed just wide of the net.
Schlake had an impressive shot on frame in the 68th minute as well that was saved by Grace McClellan.
Keiser will advance to play the winner of No. 2 Cumberland and No. 3 St. Thomas on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET.
