COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Capital University women's soccer team took on the Heidelberg University Student Princes in the quarterfinals of the Ohio Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Tournament on Tuesday, besting them by a final score of 3-1.

The first half was very one-sided in terms of possession. The Student Princes opted for a more conservative tactic, staying back and defending while trying to take advantage of the fast break. This, in turn, gave Capital the majority of the possession, holding the ball for 70% of the first 45 minutes. The Comets took advantage of this, taking 13 shots in the first period. However, it wasn't until the 29th minute when they finally pulled ahead. This came when sophomore Lexi Snider fired a ball into the box from the endline, ricocheting it off of the keeper and straight to the feet of senior Olivia Rotolo who quickly deposited it into the back of the net, giving Capital the 1-0 lead. The Purple and White would defend this lead until the end of the half.

Things started back up quickly in the second half. It only took 29 seconds for the Purple and White to net an insurance score as junior Avery Hart smoked one into the top right corner of the goal; 2-0 in favor of the Comets. Ten minutes later, the Capital lead would once again increase when junior Mia Gambaccini scored an olimpico, that is a goal directly from a corner kick, slipping the ball through the box and into the side netting of the lower right corner of the goal, and putting the Comets up 3-0. The goals marked the eighth of the year for Hart and the first of the season for Gambaccini. 

In the minutes following the third goal, Capital would go down a player, receiving a red card resulting in a penalty kick for Heidelberg. However, junior goalkeeper Lauren White had other plans than to allow an easy goal for Heidelberg. She anticipated the path of the shot and forced the kick taker to clank the ball off of the left post and out of the box, maintaining Capital's three goal lead. 

Despite being a player down for the majority of the second half, the Capital defense stood strong, even pushing forward to have a few chances of their own and continuing to dominate possession. The only blemish on the scoreboard came in the 80th minute when a Student Prince cross was redirected by the head of Heidelberg's Audrey Kaufman, making the score 3-1.

The next ten minutes were a battle. Each team had plenty of chances to score, none of which were fruitful and the final whistle blew with the scoreboard reading 3-1 in favor of Capital.

Capital fired 23 shots at goal over the two periods, 11 of which reached their target. The Comet attack was led by Avery Hart with seven shots and one goal. She was followed by senior Cassidy Ryan and junior Aaliyah Brletic who each had three. Olivia Rotolo scored one goal on three shots, and Mia Gambaccini scored her lone goal on her only shot of the game.

On the defensive side of the ball, goalkeeper Lauren White faced eight shots, four of which were on target, and made three saves. Meredith Bruce stopped eight shots in the Berg net. 

The Comets will be back in action on Thursday as they travel to Ada to take on the second seeded Ohio Northern Polar Bears. This will be a rematch of last year's semi-final in which the Polar Bear's emerged victorious. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST!