As cool as the other side of the pillow were the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes.
Ameera Al-Maksosi's penalty was the difference and
Talia Walsh's goal sweetened the pot as the third-seeded Coyotes defeated the sixth-seeded Tabor College Bluejays 2-0 in the KCAC tournament quarterfinals on Wednesday at JRI Stadium at the Graves Family Sports Complex.
The victory sends the Coyotes to the KCAC Semifinals for the 21st time in the last 22 seasons. KWU will play second-seeded Friends on Saturday at Adair Austin Stadium in Wichita. Friends tied with Ottawa 1-1 on Wednesday, but advanced 4-3 in a penalty kick shootout.
The Coyotes were on the offensive for a majority of the night, but could not find a goal until late in the match. On the other side, Tabor was content with holding the Coyotes out of goal and hopefully finding a counter or taking the match to penalties.
KWU was awarded a penalty in the 39th minute when a foul happened in the box, but
Wendy Zamudio's shot from the spot was saved to keep the match scoreless into the half.
KWU had a few more chances in the second half with good looks from
Emily Martin,
Brooklyn Velotta and
Jamie Orzel but could not find nylon.
The Coyotes broke through in the 76th minute. KWU sent a ball into the box, but a hand ball against Tabor inside the penalty area drew Wesleyan's second chance of the night from the spot.
Al-Maksosi stepped up and sent the ball home, center goal, to give the Coyotes the advantage.
Wesleyan's second tally, a much-needed insurance goal, came in the 88th minute.
Carstyn Anderson sent a corner kick into the box over the top to the far post where
Talia Walsh gathered and shot, finding the net to put the Coyotes up 2-0.
KWU had a 13-3 advantage in shots led by Velotta with three.
Karmen Coronado got the shutout win for the Coyotes and was relatively unchallenged, only facing one on-frame shot from Tabor, recording one save.
