COLUMBUS, Ohio – On Saturday afternoon, the Capital University women's soccer team hosted the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament Championship match against Ohio Northern University. A 61st minute goal from the Polar Bears gave the visitors the tournament title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Capital will now await the selection show to see if they will earn an at-large bid to the tournament. 

The Comets now sit with an overall record of 12-3-3 and held the OAC's No. 1 seed after claiming the OAC's Regular Season Championship this season – their first since 2015. The OAC Tournament Final was the first for Capital since the 2017 season. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
A strong wind created havoc for both teams as the breeze significantly favored one side of the field, allowing through balls to carry one direction and to die down the other direction. 

Despite this, both teams managed their opportunities and after a scoreless first half the deadlock was broken in the 61st minute as ONU intercepted a clearance. Thee Kylie Brown played the ball quickly to Jill Roberts who swiveled a shot against the momentum of Lauren White in the goal and snuck the ball into the back corner of the net. 

Down a goal, Capital pressed forward to try and get back in the game. The team nearly got that goal in the 90th minute in dramatic fashion as the Comets got a corner kick. Madeline Woodruff's service into the box was headed back across to a wide open Catherine Zugaro. There, the ball fell to Zugaro's head, but her header rattled the crossbar and ricocheted back into the field. 

A desperation attempt from Tori Kittrell with 14 seconds left was blocked and the time expired with the score remaining 1-0 in favor of Ohio Northern. 

THE NUMBERS
Capital out-shot ONU by a margin of 11-8 in the game. Avery Hart led all players with four shots – all of which tested Becky Moss in the Polar Bear goal. Moss finished with six saves in the game. The other two on-target shots from Capital came from Sophia Leonetti and Grace Estes. 

Lauren White made two saves in the game, including a brilliant stop on a shot by Annalise Jansen in the 80th minute. 

WHAT'S NEXT
Capital will now await the NCAA's Selection Show on Monday, November 7th at 2 p.m. to learn if they will receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. Tune in to NCAA.com and athletics.capital.edu to follow along in real time on Monday at 2 p.m. to see if Capital's season will continue.