MVNU (15-5-1), which is the defending NCCAA national champion, scored the only goal of the match in the 16th minute when freshman forward Jessica Estep (left) took a pass from junior midfielder Page Miller in the box and found the back of the net for a 1-0 advantage. The goal was Estep’s team-leading 22nd of the season, while Miller notched her eighth assist.

That would prove to be all the scoring in the match as the Lady Cougars’ back line posted the team’s ninth shutout with freshman goalkeeper Jenessa Loewen notching four saves. Ashley Morrell, Palm Beach Atlantic’s goalie, stopped six shots in a losing effort. MVNU held an 11-9 edge in total shots, a 7-4 lead in shots on goal, and a 3-2 margin in corner kicks.

“Our back line played very well today,” said MVNU head coach Jonathan Meade. “We just did not give them very many scoring chances at all. Jenessa played with a lot of confidence in goal, too.”

“We had several other scoring chances in the first half, but just couldn’t capitalize,” said Meade. “Then, in the second half, we possessed the ball much more and did a nice job. Page played really hard, and Challyn (Dobson) played well -especially in the second half.”

The Lady Cougars will now advance to the semifinals on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. where MVNU will face third-seeded Indiana Wesleyan University (19-2-1), who defeated sixth-seeded Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) University 3-0 in the first round. The other semifinal match will feature top-seeded Spring Arbor (Mich.) University (16-2-3) versus fourth-seeded Trinity Christian (Ill.) College (18-5-2) at 7:30 p.m.