Lenoir-Rhyne Advances In Women’s Soccer Tournament With 1-0 Win Over Armstrong Atlantic State

TAMPA, Fla. - The Lenoir-Rhyne University Women's Soccer Team (19-2-1) defeated Armstrong Atlantic State University (14-4-2), 1-0, on Friday afternoon at Pepin Stadium to capture the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Crown and earn its first-ever trip to the Elite Eight. Junior Laura Linehan (San Diego, Calif.) scored the lone goal to lead the Bears to their seventh straight victory.

L-R will play the winner of Florida Tech (10-6-3) and Tampa (16-5-1) at Pepin Stadium in Tampa, Fla., on Sunday, November 21st at Noon.

After outshooting Armstrong Atlantic, 8-3, in the first half, L-R finally got on the board in the 54th minute when junior Mariel Mena (Gainesville, Fla.) served a ball into the box that Linehan finished to give the Bears the 1-0 advantage and provide all the offense they would need for the win. Mena was credited with the assist.

L-R edged Armstrong Atlantic in shots by a count of 15-14 . Sophomore Caitlin Scruggs (Torrance, Calif.) earned her ninth shutout of the season by making six saves to pick up the win in goal for the Bears. Tracey Mitchell (Albany, Ga.) made seven saves despite being saddled with the loss in goal for the Pirates.

The win marks the first time in school history that any L-R athletic team has advanced to the Elite Eight in NCAA Division II competition. On Sunday at Noon, the Bears will play for a chance to earn a spot in the 2010 NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Final Four to be held on December 2nd in Louisville, Ky.