![Valiant Comeback Falls Short in CL Semis Against No. 2 Marian](/images/2022-23/WomenSoccer/Brackenbury_IUE.jpg)
Valiant Comeback Falls Short in CL Semis Against No. 2 Marian
INDIANAPOLIS – A late valiant comeback attempt from RV Taylor (13-4-2, 4-3-2) fell just short on Wednesday evening, falling 3-2 against No. 2 Marian (17-0-2, 8-0-1) in the Crossroads League Semifinals.
The Trojans' defense started strong, and while the Knights had more possession, they could not beat the TU defense and keeper Hannah Brackenbury for the first 28 minutes. Brackenbury ended the match with a season-best nine saves.
Audrey Grimm had the first two chances for Taylor on the counterattack and forced the Marian goalie to make two saves to keep the match scoreless early on.
The Knights finally capitalized in the 29th minute to open the scoring.
TU attempted to equalize quickly after, when Kiana Siefert reached a long pass and skirted by a defender before forcing another save from the keeper.
The Trojans went into the break down a goal, but Marian doubled its lead less than two minutes after halftime and then went up 3-0 shortly after to seemingly put the match out of reach.
Taylor then, got a goal back in the 69th minute. Grimm forced another save that was parried behind to give TU its fourth corner of the evening. Claire Massey sent a dangerous cross from the corner that Sydney Thompson headed into the ground and between the goalie's legs to give Taylor a glimmer of hope.
The Trojans continued their comeback attempt four minutes later when Chloe Sena fired an audacious volley from 25 yards out that was just out of the keeper's reach in the top corner to cut the deficit to one with 17 minutes to play.
Taylor came close to equalizing in the 87th minute when Morgan Fletemeyer launched a shot from 25 yards heading for the same spot Sena scored before being pushed over the crossbar by the keeper for a Trojans corner. The ball bounced around the box off the ensuing corner, but no TU player got it across the line before a MU defender cleared it, and the match ended soon after.
The two goals from the Trojans are the most scored against Marian since its season opener against Saint Ambrose (13-4-3, 10-1-2), in which the Knights also surrendered two goals in a 4-2 victory.
RV Taylor will now wait to see if they are headed to the NAIA National Tournament when the field of teams is announced during the selection show on Monday, November 14th, at noon.