GREENVILLE, Ill. - The women's soccer team is headed back to the SLIAC tournament championship match for the second consecutive year and fifth time in the last 10 years. The Panthers received a late first half goal to tie Thursday's semifinal match and received the winning goal in the 70th minute from Jen De Leon De Leon to overcome Fontbonne and record the 2-1 victory.
The Panthers slipped behind early when a goal in the ninth minute put them behind by one.
Later in the 44th minute, Kate Arthur received a free kick and drilled it over the goalkeeper's head to knot the score at 1-all going to the halftime intermission.
De Leon De Leon's winning goal in the second half was assisted by Athena Hagerman.
Greenville was outshot 15-9 in the match, but goalkeeper Marjory Coates produced a number of dazzling saves to hold the Griffins off the scoreboard. Coates ended with nine saves.
The Panthers put three shots on goal and placed two of the three in the net.
The Panthers (11-6-2) will play Webster on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the SLIAC tournament championship match in a contest between the SLIAC regular season co-champions. A win would allow the Panthers to qualify for their first NCAA Division III national tournament. GU will have revenge on their minds when they go back to Soccer Park just one week after dropping a match against Webster that pulled the two teams into a tie for the SLIAC regular season title.