One day after capturing the program's first NCAA Division III Tournament win, the Aurora University women's soccer team set out to continue the record setting 2014 season with a match up with the host Foresters of Lake Forest College.
The teams traded shots throughout the contest with neither high powered offense able to find the back of the net and forcing a winner take all overtime session.
AU is no stranger to overtime in the NCAA Tournament though as this marked the Spartans fourth consecutive overtime NCAA contest and third in the last four games this season.
The overtime found the Spartans look comfortable and on the offensive, taking the ball to the Foresters. In the fifth minute of overtime, senior
Lorelei Ritzert sent a ball towards junior
Nicci Bermudes and a pair of Lake Forest defenders. Bermudes split the defenders to the ball and found herself one on one with Forester goalkeeper Rachel Tenuta.
As she had done 34 other times in 2014, Bermudes found the back again once again, her 35th on the season for the game winning goal that advanced the Spartans to the Round of 16 in the NCAA Championships. The goal was her record setting 12th game winning goal of the season as well.
AU goalkeeper
Rachael Warnock had three saves in 95:15 of game action for the win. The Spartans are now 19-3-1 overall and extended their season and unbeaten streak to 19 games.
Next action for the Spartan women's soccer team comes in the Round of 16 "Sweet 16" of the NCAA Championships. AU will play Centre College with the time and location yet to be announced by the NCAA.
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