Box Score  | Photo Gallery | McHale Interview | Allen Interview

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – After a scoreless first half, the 24^th-ranked and top seeded Davenport women's soccer used two goals by Natalie McHale and Paige Eli to beat fourth-seed Madonna 2-0 Saturday evening to advance to its first ever Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference Tournament finals appearance. The Lady Panthers will challenge No. 2 Indiana Tech for the tournament crown, along with the automatic bid to nationals, Friday at 7 p.m.
 
Davenport dominated the shots category 16-8, 7-4 on goal, as well as the corner kicks 6-3. Lizzie Paul led the effort in shots with seven, followed by Eli with four and McHale and Karitas Elvarsdottir with one each. Michelle Marcus was also brilliant between the posts on the evening, making four tough saves to help extend the single-season shutout record to 12.
 
The Lady Panthers jumped on the board in the 57^th minute when Eli took a free kick just outside the penalty area. Madonna keeper Blaire Schmalenberg made a great effort to stop the shot and although she didn't have complete control of the ball, a charging McHale from the right side knocked the loose ball into the back of the net.
 
The insurance goal came five minutes later when Letesha Cannonier fed a forward pass to Eli, who dribbled into the box from the left side and beat Schmalenberg with a shot near the left post.

Post-Match Notes
Davenport, which improves to 17-2, extended its single-season record in wins (17), consecutively (11), shutouts (12), points (157), goals (54) and assists (49)…Natalie McHale scored her first goal since Sept. 29 at Lawrence Tech…Michelle Marcus is one win away from tying Catherine Howard's record-holding career-win mark with 18.

Follow Davenport Athletics on: FACEBOOK | TWITTER | YouTube
Follow Davenport Women's Soccer on: FACEBOOK