Contact: Nathan Cameron, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications, 563-588-7243

Nov. 12, 2021 - The NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament kicked off on the campus of Loras College Friday afternoon as the No. 9 Loras College women's soccer team (19-0-1, 8-0-0 A-R-C) began their national tournament journey in the First Round against the Fontbonne University Griffins. An early first half goal by senior All-Conference forward Emily Perhats sealed the deal on the win to advance the Duhawks in the Second Round against the Calvin University Knights. 

The Duhawks entered Friday's game as no strangers to the Griffins, seeing them once already in the regular season where the Duhawks claimed a 3-1 victory. The win against Griffins came on Sept. 12, sparking the Duhawks' current 16-game win streak. 

The Loras offense pressed Fontbonne in the attacking zone early in the game, seeing the Duhawks' strength on set pieces continue to shine as Payton McDonnell squared up for a corner kick in the 2nd minute of the game. McDonnell put a ball in the box that bounced around with no team able to gain possession before Perhats jumped in an rifled a shot past Fontbonne keeper Mary Beers for the lone goal of the game. 

The Griffins played a hard-fought physical game, seeing them accumulate 14 fouls on the day with one yellow card in the closing minutes while the Duhawks racked up eight fouls of their own. The two teams' back lines excelled with both Beers and Duhawks keeper Kyndal Kells making miraculous saves to keep balls out of the net. 

The Duhawks outshot Fontbonne 13-7 in the game with six Loras shots making it on goal while Fontbonne had four. Perhats' goal marked her sixth of the year while McDonnell posted her 20th assist in 20 games played thus far in the season, breaking the previous single season assists record that was held by Michelle Wieser since 2002. In net, Kells made four saves to turn in her eight shutout of the season. 

The Second Round of the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament is set to kick off on Saturday, Nov. 13 as the Duhawks take on the Knights from Calvin College. The game is scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM inside the Rock Bowl.