The Dominican University women's soccer team advanced to the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Tournament championship match for the third straight year with a 4-1 win over the Concordia University Wisconsin Falcons on Tuesday afternoon at the Stars' West Campus Field.
 
After falling behind 1-0 in the first half, the Stars scored three goals in a 95 second span ten minutes into the second half to pull in front 3-1 before adding an insurance tally en route to their 17^th straight win.
 
"We really hadn't faced any adversity in a long time," said Carlos Carrillo, the Stars' fifth-year head coach. "I was really proud of the way the team responded to falling behind and I challenged them at the half.  They all stepped up in a big way and delivered in the second half.  After a slow and sluggish start, our work rate really picked up in the second half and we scored goals as the result of the effort we put forth.  We did not quit on any plays in the second half and were rewarded for that effort."
 
Allison McElwee's goal in the 26^th minute was the first goal surrendered by the Stars since September 3, spanning more than 1,489 minutes of play over 16-plus matches.  For the first time since the second match of the season, Dominican was forced to play from behind.
 
After putting just one of five shots on frame over the first 45 minutes of play, the Dominican offense came to life in the second half.  The Stars managed 17 shots in the second half, putting nine on frame.
 
Josseline Williams, the conference's leading goal scorer during the regular season, leveled the score in the 55^th minute and then gave Dominican a 2-1 advantage just 44 seconds later, scoring her 24^th and 25^th goals of the season.  Then in the 56^th minute, freshman Holli Cochran notched her 16^th goal of the season when Danielle Mason slipped a pass through the Falcons' backline that sprung Cochran for a 1v1 with goalkeeper Olivia Kindt.  Cochran ripped a shot that snuck under the crossbar before finding the back of the goal.
 
Mason then rewarded herself with a goal in the 68^th minute, finding the side netting inside the far post after getting to the endline along the right side of the goal.
 
Despite pushing forward, the Stars allowed the Falcons just two second half shots, none making their way through to Abbey Brown who picked up the win in goal for Dominican.
 
"We can enjoy this one for today," commented Carrillo. "Tomorrow we turn our focus to Saturday's NACC Championship match.  That has been our goal the whole season, to get to the NACC Championship; win the NACC championship and get back to the national tournament."
 
Dominican will host Saturday's NACC Tournament championship match, awaiting the winner of Tuesday's other semifinal match between the Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks and MSOE Raiders.  Match time will be announced Wednesday night, following the NACC Men's Soccer Tournament semifinals matches.