Fifth-year forward Mackenzie Dimarco scored her second goal of the match with less than three minutes to play as the Lady Hornets upended #15 Central Missouri 3-2 to win their second MIAA Tournament Championship in three years at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, Kan. on Saturday night. The teams battled to a scoreless tie through the first half of play as the teams combined for just five shots in the first 45 minutes. The Jennies broke through less than two minutes into the second half, but Hadlie Lowe tied the match less than two minutes later on a feed from Abby Bachman. Then Dimarco put ESU in front just over two minutes after that to become the MIAA’s all-time points leader. UCM tied the match on a header with less than nine minutes to play. Following a Mackenzi Goen save and punt, Hannah Woolery controlled a touch to Dimarco who finessed the game-winner over the UCM keeper’s head. Head coach Bryan Sailer described his pride of the team after overcoming a slow start to the year.
Dimarco said the team didn’t panic after allowing the early Central goal in the second half.
The Lady Hornets improved to 12-5-4 with the win and have now won a program record eight-straight matches and are 11-1-1 over their last 13. E-State heads to the NCAA Tournament Central Regional for the third-straight year and the fourth time in program history, all in the last five seasons. The NCAA will unveil the tournament bracket on Monday afternoon with its selection show at 5:30 p.m. Emporia State will host a watch party for the show with further details to be announced via social media.
