Box Score BLOOMINGTON, IL: Pomona-Pitzer's postseason magic kept the Hens alive for 105 minutes into Round 2 but a favorable bounce off an Annie Wedel save would be all the luck Illinois Wesleyan would need to net the game-winner and move on the Sweet 16 for the second straight season.
Facing one of their toughest tests of the season in the CCIW Regular Season Champion and seventh-ranked Illinois Wesleyan, the Sagehen-Titan rumble was as much of an exhilarating rollercoaster ride as they come with the Hens relying on outstanding defensive play throughout the first ninety minutes to keep the Titans off the board. While the first twenty minutes of the match saw each team feeling out each other's formation and strengths, a 24th minute substitution by IWU proved to be a major turning point in momentum as the Titans would control possession and keep intense pressure on the Hens' back line leading to a 7-0 shot advantage over the last 20 minutes of the half. Much to the chagrin of the Titan faithful, Annie Wedel was a force in goal, collecting five saves over the stretch and picking up timely tackles from Nadia Alaiyan and Jamie Kerester to keep the Titans at bay.
With momentum firmly belonging to Illinois Wesleyan going into half, Pomona-Pitzer would come out swinging to start the second with Danika Bethune getting free inside the box in the 46' but a high hop led to Bethune's shot sailing high of the net. The biggest scare of the second half for the Sagehens came only minutes later on an IWU corner kick in the 51' where after a partial clear a volley over the defensive back line would allow the Titans to find the back of the net. However, an offsides ruling would nullify the goal and keep the Hens right in it. Pomona-Pitzer would also start the find their offensive form as the half drew on, getting excellent looks by Abby Onderwyzer-Gold on a header just outside the 9' in the 71' and a rocket from Bethune from outside the box in the 76' but both shots would go directly to Titan Goalkeeper Katie Denney. While the swarming Titan offensive attack tallied thirteen shots in the half, Wedel would save all six shots on goal and pick up a dominant 45 minutes from Alaiyan to take the match to overtime.
Riding the energy from the remarkable defensive performance, the Hens controlled the first 10 minute overtime period with the only scare coming in the 92' when Annie Wedel got just enough of a fingertip on an Alison Seger shot from the far side of the 18' to allow the ball to roll just wide of the near post. After surviving the subsequent back-to-back Titan corners, Pomona-Pitzer would counter hard and control the majority of possession over the last seven minutes but could only muster one shot with Danika Bethune's 98th minute shot being easily blocked by CCIW Player of the Year Mary Kate Schmidt.
With both teams entering the 2nd overtime period for only the second time this season, Illinois Wesleyan would waste no time putting pressure on Pomona-Pitzer as a Sagehen defensive miscue only 40 seconds into the period led to Amanda Kaiser firing a rocket past a drawn-out Annie Wedel. However, Kaiser's shot sailed high, keeping the Hens alive once again. While Pomona-Pitzer would create a decent look outside the box off the subsequent counter, an Illinois Wesleyan tackle and steal served as the starting point for their game-winner as Alison Seger would burst through the Sagehen defense on the far side of the box, fire a shot the near post, and collect the rebound off of Annie Wedel's save for an easy goal to send the Titans to the Sweet 16.
Pomona-Pitzer was outshot 26-9 over the 105 minutes of action while only registering one corner kick to the Titans' nine. Annie Wedel played an exceptional game in her season finale finishing with a career high 14 saves, the highest single game total for a Sagehen Goalkeepers in over six seasons. With the loss, the Sagehens finish their record-breaking season at 12-9-1 while boasting the distinction of being the most successful squad in program history to date.
