IU East claims RSC Women's Soccer Championship 1-0 over Asbury (Ky.)
By IU East Sports Information
WILMORE, Ky. – The Indiana University East women's soccer team was looking for a different outcome, and the Red Wolves got it. IU East defeated Asbury (Ky.) University 1-0 to claim the title in the River States Conference Women's Soccer Championships on Saturday, Nov. 16.
With the victory, IU East earns an automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship that begins on Friday, Nov. 22. The pairings will be announced on the NAIA Facebook page at noon on Monday, Nov. 18.
This was the second year in a row that the two teams met in the conference championship match with Eagles winning on penalty kicks last season.
UPDATING THE RECORDS
IU East is 13-3-3, while Asbury finishes the season at 9-10-1.
KEY MOMENTS
* Kayla Amidon drilled a loose ball into the net for the only score of the match at 7:36.
* Gabby Mitchum had five saves including a diving stop in the second half.
TRENDING
* This is the first post-season title and national tournament bid for the Red Wolves in three-year history of the program.
* The 13 victories are a school record for most wins in a season.
* Amidon scored her third goal of the RSC Championships and fourth of the season.
QUOTABLE
"I'm really happy for the kids. They worked hard and Asbury was good tonight. It was a tough hard-fought physical match. We did what we needed to do. I'm totally pleased for them. They've been through a lot and haven't given up. I know it's been two years in a row now in the conference finals and that's going to be the standard for us." - IU East coach Shane Meridith.
"I'm super proud of every single one of my teammates. This was our time. Last year, we didn't get what we wanted and this year we came back and got what we wanted." - KK Smith.
"We've had our ups and downs, but we came together at the end of the day. We knew what we had to do for each other." - Dejhanna O'Bryant.
"I was screaming. I was so happy because she's not traditionally a forward. For somebody to be thrown into a different position and step up to the plate, it was an amazing thing." - Dejhanna O'Bryant on Amidon's goal.
UP NEXT
IU East will find out its NAIA Tournament opponent on Monday, Nov. 18.