Concord Beats D&E in OT, 1-0, Advances to Semifinals - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

Concord Beats D&E in OT, 1-0, Advances to Semifinals

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By Bryan Levin, Sports Director/Anchor - email
FAIRMONT -

A goal by sophomore Alyanna James gave the Concord University women's soccer team  a 1-0 win over Davis & Elkins Thursday in an opening-round match of the 2012 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament. The Mountain Lions are 5-0-2 in overtime games this season.

With the victory, Concord earns the right to play West Virginia Wesleyan (Nov. 3 – 4:00 p.m.) in the semifinals for the chance to advance to the WVIAC Championship match. The win, the Mountain Lions' ninth consecutive victory, improves CU's record to 10-6-2 on the season.

After several time and location changes due the weather Concord was finally able to take the field against the higher-seeded Davis & Elkins squad, a team that CU had already beaten once this season.  For the match, Concord held a 12-7 advantage in shots while narrowly being edged by the Senators in corners, 5-4.

James' goal, her eighth of the year, came on her only shot of the match. Sophomore Stacey Calder, freshman Kari Simon and freshman Brianne LaFemina all tied for a game-high of two shots on goal apiece. Sophomore goalie Kaitlyn Wasylko stopped five shots en route to her fourth shutout of the season.

With neither team being able to beat the others keeper through the first 90 minutes of play, the two schools headed into overtime with their respective seasons on the line. As has been the case the entire season, Concord was able to outperform its opponent in extra time as James came up with her third game-winning goal of the year to eliminate Davis & Elkins, and propel Concord into the semifinals, with the 1-0 victory.

Concord has now reached the semifinals of the conference tournament for the ninth time in program-history, but for the first time since 2009.

CU lost a 2-0 decision at West Virginia Wesleyan earlier in the season. Concord and West Virginia Wesleyan have met three times in postseason play, with Wesleyan winning all three match-ups. However, the two schools have not played each other in the WVIAC Tournament since 2009's championship game.

Concord and West Virginia Wesleyan are scheduled to play 4:00 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3 on Alderson-Broaddus Universities turf field. If the Mountain Lions defeat Wesleyan they will meet the winner of the Charleston – Alderson-Broaddus match 4:00 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4 in Philippi, W. Va.