Second-Half Surge Sends Women's Soccer to NAIA Opening Round Final

By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media

Photo Courtesy of Southeastern (Fla.) Athletic Communications

LAKELAND, Fla. – The Eagles flipped a switch in the second half against Middle Georgia State to advance to the Lakeland Bracket Final after coming from behind in a 2-1 win over the Knights in the 2020 NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship Opening Round.

The victory keeps the Reinhardt winning streak alive – now 16 in-a-row – after Jasmine Usher nailed the clinching goal in the top-right on a breakaway at 74:43.

"What a remarkable team," head coach Andy Kaplan said. "We were sluggish and not ready to play. Down, 1-0, at halftime, it would have been easy to let the game slip away. Instead, our girls dug deep and came up with a courageous second half. Our defenders fought the entire night against very talented defenders and Caroline came up with some important saves in-goal. Our forwards have shown an unbelievable ability to create and finish chances all year; that certainly continued tonight.

"Every player who came in off the bench gave us quality minutes. This group continues to achieve. Sixteen-game winning streaks just never happen."

The scoreboard was quiet for a majority of the opening half as both teams tried to settle into the first matchup of the day at SEU Soccer Field. Middle Georgia State would then break the scoreless tie by netting an attempt in the 37^th minute to head to the locker room up, 1-0.

The Eagles came out in the second half and continued to fight to find some answers on offense – especially since they survived being outshot in the first half, 9-3 – and it paid off. Usher was able to find Brianna Smotherman for a goal at 57:26 to tie the score at 1-1 and put the momentum of the contest on Reinhardt's side.

The Knights, who held a 13-6 shot advantage (and 9-1 corner kicks), would fail to score in the second period after being slowed by the outstanding effort by Eagle defenders.

Caroline Johnson got her first NAIA postseason victory protecting the net with two saves in 90 minutes.

Offensively, Smotherman led the way with three shots. 

The club will now take on host Southeastern (Fla.) on Saturday at 7 p.m. with a chance to play its way to the NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship Final Site in Foley, Ala., beginning April 27.

For up-to-the-minute Eagles sports news, follow Reinhardt Athletics on Facebook, @RU_Eagles on Twitter and @ru_eagles on Instagram. 

For more information on Reinhardt Women's Soccer, please click here.