Wildcats Edge Yellowjackets, 2-1, To Win HAAC Title

Ukena brought Baker (13-3-1) back from an early deficit as she sent a crossfield pass to senior D Skylar Baker, who was flying up the right sideline. Baker cut her angle toward goal and fired a shot from 10 yards that was too strong for Graceland GK Stefany Castano Cardozo to stop as the ball went over her head at the 26:09 mark.

With the teams tied at the half, the first 15 minutes went by with little fanfare, However, the Wildcats would strike just past the hour mark with what would prove to be the title-clinching goal.

Alix Schiraldi picked up the ball 15 yards inside her own half and picked out Ukena making a run into space just to the right of the center circle. She managed to stay even with the last defender and was clear into space with just Cardozo to beat. She neatly slid the ball under the charging netminder to put the Wildcats in front at 60:55.

Graceland (10-6-3) shocked the partizan crowd exactly 60 seconds into the game as HAAC Offensive Player of the Year and leading scorer Gisela Arrieta got on the board. Leslie Carroll pushed the ball into the right corner and hit a cross toward the penalty spot. The ball skipped off the head of a Baker defender and dropped to Arrieta, who fired a shot that Baker GK Maggie Dupes could only slightly deflect, but not keep out of the net.

The victory for Baker earned them an automatic berth to the NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship. Pairings for the 15 Opening Round matches will be released in the late evening on Sunday, November 13 with those contests to be played on campus sites on Saturday, November 19. The winners of those matches and one host team advances to the final site in Decatur, Ala., with the four rounds to be played November 28-December 3.