Women's Soccer to Face Aquinas in WHAC Championship
After an unusual circumstance vaulted UNOH women's soccer straight from the WHAC Quarterfinals to the Championship match, the Racers found out their opponent on Saturday when No. 5 Aquinas took care of business against Lourdes, 2-0, in the WHAC Semifinals.
With the Saints' victory, UNOH claims the league's second automatic bid to the NAIA Tournament but the WHAC's top two teams will still have to square off on Wednesday, November 13, with the tournament championship on the line. It is the fifth time the two will meet in the post season and third in the final with Aquinas winning the championship in 2021, 1-0, in overtime and UNOH claiming the title in 2019, 5-0.
When the two faced off in the regular season, Aquinas stole a late 1-0 victory off a penalty kick in the 81st minute. Outside of that spot kick, the two teams were even across the board with both taking 13 shots and putting six on goal.
Last season, Aquinas and UNOH played a scoreless draw in the regular season and found themselves in a rematch in the WHAC Semifinals that went 1-1 through double-overtime before finishing 7-6 on penalty kicks in the Racers' favor.
By the numbers
#5 Aquinas (16-0-1) vs. #24 UNOH (13-3-3)
Aquinas has scored 81 times this season (7th in NAIA) while allowing just five goals (4th in NAIA) and UNOH has put up 66 goals (17th in NAIA), allowing nine (T9th in NAIA). The Racers boast a league best 13 shutouts this season (T4th in NAIA), logging seven straight, with the Saints right behind with twelve (T6th in NAIA) and six in-a-row.
Aquinas boasts the WHAC's four most proficient offensive players: Maeva Lichtensteiger - 48 pts, Sydney Shenk - 36 pts, Madison Slezinski - 32 pts, Maire-Louise Abild - 29 pts. Northwestern Ohio's Natalia Lima is fifth on that list with 28 points and Vivian Purmonen sits right behind with 20. Eleven different players have scored multiple goals for both teams with UNOH holding a slight edge with 16 different scorers to 15 for the Saints.
Offense production is hard to find against both defenses as Aquinas has given up just 85 shots with 42 on goal (2.47 per game) over 17 games while UNOH has allowed 100 and 58 (3.05 per game) over 19 games this season.
The WHAC Championship will take place at Aquinas College Athletic Field in Grand Rapids, Michigan at 5:00 PM on Wednesday, November 13.