Lee University moved one step closer to its third consecutive NAIA women’s national soccer championship with a 2-1 win over Southern States Athletic Conference rival Mobile on Monday at Decatur, Ala.
At Orange Beach, however, Bryan College lost 3-0 to undefeated Nebraska school Hastings in the round of 16 in the NAIA men’s national tournament. That ended the Lions’ season at 18-2-2.
Nate Polak scored 18:52 into the men’s game for Hastings (22-0), and teammate Matt Wadleigh added a free-kick goal at 24:07. Yannic Thiel scored in the 72st minute in his team’s 16th shutout win of the season.
The Broncos, seeded third for the nationals, took nine shots to 14th seed Bryan’s five in the first half but were outshot 10-4 in the second half, when the Lions also had a 5-0 edge in corner kicks. Rodrigo Pigatto made five saves in defeat.
Lee’s Lady Flames (19-2-1) edged Mobile for the third time this season and 2-1 for the second time in a row.
The Rams (13-7-1) scored first Monday, Missy Stovall netting her 11th goal of the season from a Kassie Ruff assist 32:50 into the game, but they had only three shots on goal for the game.
Katrine Korsgaard got the tying goal less than two minutes after Stovall’s score, and Samantha Hare gave Lee the lead at 64:55 from a Danielle Ciabattone assist. The Lady Flames outshot Mobile 16-6 and had nine of theirs on goal. Korsgaard took five shots and put three on goal.
Lorna Brownlie made seven saves for the Rams; Kristi Koudelka had two for No. 2 seed Lee, which will play seventh-seeded Lindsey Wilson or 10th seed Robert Morris in a Wednesday quarterfinal.