SLU players celebrate winning Friday’s game and advancing to the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history. (Photo courtesy: SLU Athletics)
| NCAA Women’s Soccer | 1 | 2 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Louis University (19-2-2) | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Georgetown (13-2-7) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Scoring Summary
| Time | Team | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 45:40 |  | Hannah Larson (5) Assisted By: Emily Gaebe. |
| 60:08 | | Hannah Sawyer (10) Assisted By: Emily Gaebe. |
| 88:38 |  | Julia Leas (1) Assisted By: Grace Sherman , Tatum Lenain. |
Paige Dale
Staff Writer
COLLEGE STATION, PA — After playing to a stand still draw in the first half, Hannah Larson scored one minute into the second half and Hannah Sawyer scored in the 61st minute to carry the Saint Louis University women’s soccer team to a dramatic and historic 2-1 win over Georgetown in the second round of the NCAA Women’s Championship, played at Penn State’s Jeffrey Field.
The victory earned Saint Louis its first ever trip to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16. The Billikens will play the host school, Penn State, in the Sweet 16 game — also known as the regional semifinals — on Sunday, with the winner earning a trip to the regional finals next weekend.
Saint Louis is now 19-2-2 on the season and has won 12 straight games. The Billikens’ unbeaten streak is now 18 games, in which the team is 16-0-2. SLU’s last loss came on August 31.
Larson’s goal was her fifth of the season. Moving to her right just inside the six-yard line, she took Gaebe’s long cross from the right wing and headed the ball back to the left past Georgetown goalkeeper Allie Augur, who came out to challenge.
Sawyer became the third Billiken this season to reach double figures in goals, netting her 10th of the year. Gaebe led her teammate with a pass from the middle of the field, and Sawyer outpaced a Georgetown opponent and beat Augur with a left-footed shot just inside the left post.
With her two assists, Gaebe, who leads the SLU with 15 goals this year, is also now tied for the team lead with nine assists this season. Her school record point total for the season is now up to 39.
Georgetown scored its goal in the 89th minute, ending Saint Louis’ streak of holding opponents scoreless at 11 games and officially 1,099 minutes and nine seconds of game action.
SLU goalkeeper Emily Puricelli made two saves in the game and extended her school record to 67 career victories.
The sixth-seeded Billikens outshot the third-seeded Hoyas 11 to 9, with eight of SLU’s shots being on goal to just three for Georgetown.
2023 SLU Billikens Women’s Soccer NCAA Tournament Schedule
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location | Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 19, 2023 (Sunday) | 12 pm | Away | #2 Penn State | College Station, Pa. | NCAA Championship |
| November 24-25, 2023 (Friday) | TBA | Away | Regional Final | TBA | NCAA Championship |
| December 1, 2023 (Friday) | TBA | Neutral | Semifinals | Cary, N.C. | NCAA Championship |
| December 4, 2023 (Monday) | TBA | Neutral | Final | Cary, N.C. | NCAA Championship |