The Webster University men’s and women’s soccer teams took home the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship crown. For both squads, it is the first time since 2009.
Women’s team triumphs over Greenville
On Friday, Nov. 2, the No. 3-seeded Gorloks took on No. 4-seeded Greenville College (Ill.) in the SLIAC championship at St. Louis Soccer Park. After a scoreless first half, junior midfielder Ally Nikolaus netted a goal in the 61st minute to put Webster up 1-0. As they did for all but one of its conference games this season, the women’s team shutout its opponent. The 1-0 victory gave the Gorloks the SLIAC championship title and an automatic berth in the NCAA Regional Tournament.
Nikolaus said the team was excited after the shutout.
“We reached one of our goals,” Nikolaus said. “We not only won conference, but we have a bid in the NCAA tournament.”
Persistence was the key factor in Webster’s postseason victories, Nikolaus said.
“We never gave up,” she said. “We just kept going.”
Video by Sam Masterson
Men’s squad wears down Westminster
The men’s team, who earned the No. 1 seed in the SLIAC tournament, upended the Westminster College Blue Jays — the third seed — 2-0 at Soccer Park on Saturday, Nov. 3. The win gave Webster a SLIAC tournament title. Taking a page from the women’s game the day before, it was scoreless after the first half.
In the 49th minute, junior striker Pat McCaffrey booted in a goal assisted by senior midfielder Shea Vogt to put the Gorloks up 1-0.
Video by Ava Roesslein
McCaffrey netted another goal, once again assisted by Vogt, to separate Webster from the Blue Jays 2-0 in the 68th minute. Sophomore goalie Brian Woodward saved six shots on goal, and the Gorloks celebrated on the field after 90 minutes of play.
“Pure joy,” Woodward said after the game. “We were just ecstatic.”
Woodward, who earned the shutout, credited his defense and the seniors for the victory.
“The defense … helped me out a ton,” he said. “Other than that, (it was) just staying poised and relaxed for those crosses they they (Westminster) kept sending in. It just came down to our seniors leading us to help set up those goals. They’re doing a great job.”
Opponents for both Gorloks squads will be announced on Monday, Nov. 5.
Check the next print issue of The Journal for coverage of Webster in the SLIAC tournaments.
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