La Crosse, Wis. - Ashford University scored three goals in the final 15 minutes to help propel them past Viterbo University 5-2 in the first round of the Midwest Collegiate Conference Tournament.

Both teams came out firing early in the contest as each team had plenty of scoring opportunities early on. The Saints would get on the board first as Cassandra Broderick scored an unassisted goal in the 11th minute. It did not take long though for Viterbo to respond as Lauren Turinetti (Fr. - Wausau, Wis.) put a rebound off the post into the back of the net. The Saints would then take the lead right back in the 18th minute on a goal by Chelsea Fisher and an assist by Broderick. It looked as though the half may end with the Saints leading 2-1 but the V-Hawks had something different in mind. Turinetti would receive a superb pass from Rita Rabb (Fr. - La Crosse, Wis.) which she would put past Saint goalie Kylie Willet. The first half would end with it tied 2-2.

For as much scoring that happened in the first half, the second half started out looking completely different as neither team was able to score. That all changed in the 74th minute as Abbye Garcia put a pass from Erika Jakobsen past Viterbo goalie, Stephanie Stacey (So. - New Berlin, Wis.). The Saints would then put more pressure on the V-Hawks as Fischer scored her second goal of the game on Jakobsen's second assist. Broderick would then put the dagger on the V-Hawks as she scored her second goal of the game in the 89th minute to put the Saints up 5-2.

Ashford University finished the contest with a 16-11 advantage in shots while Viterbo had a narrow 8-7 lead in corner kicks. Broderick finished with 2 goals and an assist to lead the Saints offense while Turinetti finished with two goals for the V-Hawks. Turinetti finishes the season with seven goals, one back of team leader Lauren Neet (Fr. - Plover, Wis.). Stacey finished the game with seven saves for the V-Hawks while Willet had four for the Saints.

The loss ends the V-Hawks season as they finish 7-10-1 overall. The Saints improve to 12-5-1 overall and advance to the MCC semifinals next Saturday against #1 St. Ambrose University.