WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University women's soccer team advanced to the semifinals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament with a 1-0 victory over Valparaiso on Monday night at Tiger Field. The Bulldogs will take on No. 1 seed Loyola on Friday in Springfield, Mo.
 
Cassie Rohan scored the game-winning goal for the Bulldogs with a highlight-reel left-footed strike in the 16^th minute.
 
Rohan played a two-person game with Alison Walls near the top of the box before navigating into open space and striking an arcing shot that sailed over the goalkeeper before diving below the crossbar and into the back of the net. Walls earned the assist on the play.
 
"We were really pleased to get an early goal to settle any nerves and allow us to find our rhythm in the game," said Drake head coach Lindsey Horner. "We are thrilled for Cassie to get her goal as she has been fantastic recently and was excellent on both sides of the ball tonight."
 
Kelsie Stone made a remarkable reaction save just before halftime to preserve Drake's lead. Valparaiso's Madison Tuma snuck into open space in the box and received an accurate delivery, but Stone snuffed out the opportunity by coming off her line and extending her right foot to deflect the shot out of harm's way.
 
Stone recorded two saves on the night as her line did well to limit Valparaiso to two shots on target.
 
"Our defensive group was great at absorbing pressure in transitional moments and controlled the final minutes really well," Horner said.
 
The Bulldogs created a handful of goal-scoring opportunities in the second half, most notably in the 81^st minute.
 
Vanessa Kavan dusted her defender on the left wing and delivered an in-swinging cross to Shelley Lyjak in the box, but Lyjak's shot plunked off the left woodwork.
 
"The game opened up in the second half and we were incredibly unlucky to not get the second goal," Horner said. "That would've killed the contest."
 
Drake's win pushes it into the semifinals, where the Bulldogs will have a rematch against No. 1 seed Loyola on Friday in Springfield, Mo. The Ramblers defeated the Bulldogs, 3-0, on Sept. 28.
 
The two sides also squared off in the 2018 MVC Tournament championship game, with Loyola prevailing 3-2 in an action-packed match.
 
"We are very excited to progress to the MVC semis and have another shot at Loyola," Horner said.