ANNVILLE, Pa. - The Lebanon Valley College women's soccer team earned the fourth and final berth in the Commonwealth Conference playoffs Saturday, earning a critical win over Lycoming College, 2-0, at Herbert Field.
The Dutchmen (10-7-1, 2-3 CC) will make the field for the first time since 2005. They will visit the winner of tonight's Messiah-Elizabethtown clash on Tuesday at a time to be announced.
Widener University will earn the third seed regardless of the outcome of tonight's game with fifth-place Albright. If Albright were to win that game, there would be a three-way tie between it, LVC, and Widener for third place, but after a series of tiebreakers, Widener and LVC would prevail in third and fourth place.
LVC pressed from the get-go, but had to settle for a scoreless first half. Six minutes into the second half, the Dutchmen drew a penalty kick, and Dana Thomsen made no mistake as she converted the opportunity.
Erin McGarvey added the insurance six minutes from time when she hit a breakaway and floated a ball over goalkeeper Jessica Bennett that glanced off the 'keeper's hand and into the net.
LVC held an 11-3 advantage on shots and led 4-3 on corner kicks. Erika Ely made one save in earning the clean sheet. Bennett stopped four.
Lebanon Valley will visit Elizabethtown or Messiah in the Commonwealth Conference semifinals Tuesday at a time to be announced.