Another close game. Another victory. Another match to play.
The Lee University women's soccer team is headed to the NCAA Division II national semifinals in Pittsburgh after beating previously undefeated Columbus (Georgia) State 1-0 on Sunday in Cleveland, Tennessee.
The Lady Flames (17-6-1) came out on top in the defensive battle thanks to stellar play from redshirt junior goalkeeper Taylor Green from Notre Dame High School, who had five of her six saves in the second half, and a 63rd-minute goal made possible by two underclassmen who fill defensive roles in Lee's formation.
A header by freshman Lauren Weimer on a cross by sophomore Anna Lanter from Soddy-Daisy put the Lady Flames on the board in the 63rd minute. Weimer has three goals this season, and Lanter has four assists.
Columbus State (18-1-2) outshot Lee 16-11 overall but just 6-5 on goal, though the Lady Cougars had a major advantage in corner kicks, 17-2.
Lee, a No. 4 seed, has won each of its matches in the 56-team national tournament by a goal, and before Sunday it had taken at least one overtime period to settle them. The Lady Flames beat Rollins 2-1 in double overtime on Nov. 9, West Florida 1-0 in overtime on Nov. 11 and Mississippi College 2-1 on Friday to set up Sunday's victory.
The Lady Flames will be joined in the Nov. 29 semifinals at Highmark Stadium by No. 1 seeds Grand Valley State University (Allendale, Michigan) and the University of California San Diego as well as No. 2 seed Bridgeport (Connecticut), with all three of those programs rolling in their quarterfinals. GVSU beat Central Missouri 6-1, UC San Diego beat West Texas A&M 5-0 and Bridgeport beat Bloomsburg 3-1.
The championship game is Dec. 1.