By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media
Photo Courtesy of Union Sports Communication
WALESKA, Ga. – Reinhardt women's soccer advanced to the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Semifinals with a come-from-behind victory – compliments of a pair of goals from Adrien Merrilles – as the Eagles took out the Bulldogs of Union (Ky.), 2-1, Tuesday night in Waleska.
The hometown club improved to 13-5-1 with the triumph and has claimed eight-straight positive outcomes on the year.
"I'm very proud of our team for finding a way to advance to the semifinals," head coach Andy Kaplan said. "We fell behind early and the game could have gone to Union, but we stayed patient and fought together as a team. It was great to see senior Celeste Diaz set up senior Adrien Merrilles for the game-winning goal… It's clear our seniors want to extend their careers as long as possible."
The visitors from Kentucky got on the board first in the opening period following a fight for the ball in front of the Reinhardt net. The Bulldogs found themselves ahead, 1-0, after a save attempt by the Eagle position players fell short in the 14th minute.
Merrilles made some moves 10 minutes later and drove an attempt past the goalkeeper for the tying score.
The Eagles would put up 10 shots in the first period, but wouldn't be able to scratch across any additional tallies before halftime.
Both teams would go up-and-down the field without the scoreboard moving until Celeste Diaz set one up from the far-left side all the way across and connected with Merrilles to clinch a spot in the round of four within the AAC Championship.
Union would try to tie the score and force extra time, but couldn't come up with any substantial opportunities.
Reinhardt outshot the Bulldogs, 19-7.
In a complete team effort, Caroline Johnson went wire-to-wire with four saves in the win.
The team now looks ahead to the semifinals against Tennessee Wesleyan on Saturday at 2 p.m. on the road.
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