The women's soccer team claimed a 3-1 victory this afternoon over #25 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) in the opening round of the NAIA Women's Soccer National Tournament. The first-ever win for the Saints in the National Tournament advances them to tomorrow's regional final and sets a new school for wins in a single season with 18.

After a period of the teams feeling each other out to start the game, the Saints took an early lead just over ten minutes into the game thanks to senior midfielder Jenna Smith. After a ONU foul on the Saints just outside of the box, Aquinas earned a free-kick in a dangerous spot to the goalie's right. Smith, the Saints' All-WHAC midfielder, stepped up to the ball to take the shot and drilled a curling shot around the ONU wall and just past the outstretched Tigers' goalkeeper. Smith's free-kick goal gave the Saints a 1-0 lead and momentum early in the contest. However, the Tigers, who entered the game with a 17-2-1 record, would fight back. The Tigers had held a slight advantage in possession for most of the first 45 minutes, and finally created a dangerous shot just minutes after the Saints' took the lead. The Tigers converted and quickly erased the 1-0 deficit. Headed into the halftime break, the scoreboard read 1-1.

However, the Saints would retake control early in the second-half, scoring two quick goals to take the lead and never look back. The first, and game-winning goal, was set up by Raegan Radaz, who crossed a ball into the box that found Hannah Crum. Crum did the rest, and her 11th goal of the season gave the Saints a 2-1 lead. Just minutes later, the Saints' leading scorer, Filippa Struxsjo, got in on the action. The junior forward from Kinna, Sweden beat the Tiger goalkeeper one on one and found the back of the net, giving the Saints a two-goal lead they would never be in danger of relinquishing.

The Saints were actually outshot on the day 10-8, but both teams found the net six times. The difference was that Saints' goalkeeper Braeleigh McCoy made five saves on the day, including a sprawling save in the second-half to keep the Tigers at just one goal in the contest. 

Aquinas advances to the next round of the National Tournament, taking on regional host and 6th-ranked Central Methodist (Mo.) Saturday at 1:00 pm EST. The winner of tomorrow's matchup earns one of 16 spots at the NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship final site in Orange Beach, Ala. starting December 3rd.