DECATUR, Ala. – Three-time defending national champion Lee (21-2) netted a goal in each half of play to hold off the 11th-seeded team from Embry-Riddle, 2-0, in the quarterfinal round of the 28th Annual NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship, Wednesday at the Jack Allen Recreation Complex. The loss marked the end of the 2011 campaign for the Eagles who set a program single-season record for wins with their 18-3-1 overall record.

Lee, seeded third in the tournament and playing on a day's rest, went on the attack from the first whistle and kept possession of the ball in the Eagles' defensive third to open the game. The pressure paid off just 1:46 into the contest when a Lady Flames' cross into the box went off Ashley Aragona to Leah Fortune who finished Lee's first shot of the game for an early 1-0 lead.

The goal did not rattle the Eagles who kept the ball in the Lee half of the field for much of the remainder of the half. The Eagles' first shot of the game came in the eighth minute when Cecilie Henriksen's left-footed strike tested Lee goalkeeper Leah Wilson who was forced to make a diving save.

 Throughout the remainder of the frame, both teams created chances to score with Lee holding a 5-3 edge in shots, but neither team was able to capitalize and the score stayed at 1-0 in favor of the Lady Flames at the intermission.

Lee's second goal came less than four minutes into the second half. The Flames played a ball into box and the Eagles' clearance fell to Jamie Achten whose shot from just outside the 18-yard box went into the side netting to extend the Lee lead to 2-0.

Despite the deficit, the Eagles, playing their second game in 24 hours, continued to battle and edged the Lady Flames 6-5 in shots in the second frame. The Eagles had a few close calls, including attempts on target by Henriksen and Martine Olsen, but Wilson managed to get to each shot to keep the Eagles at bay.

“It was a tale of two halves,” ERAU head coach Samantha Bohon observed following the contest. “I thought that we had good possession and attack in the first half despite the early goal. In the second half, we didn't do a great job of getting control of the ball. Lee did a good job of showing their experience and applying early pressure each half. At the end, the short rest caught up with us and we just couldn't put one in.

“I'm so proud of our willingness to fight for 90 minutes. Our seniors know they went down swinging. That's all we can ask at this point in nationals.  We wish Lee the best in the Final Four."

Wednesday's contest was last in the collegiate careers of Embry-Riddle seniors Henriksen, Dina Roper, Kara Haack, Bjorg Olafs, Gracie Peters and Madeleine Edbom. Those players collectively helped the Eagles to four national tournament appearances, three conference tournament titles, a conference regular season title, the program's first ever quarterfinal appearance and a combined record of 54-21-4.