Truett McConnell Completes the Job, Wins Tournament Title

Truett McConnell Completes the Job, Wins Tournament Title
November 10, 2023

CLEVELAND, Ga. - Truett McConnell finished the job as the top-seeded Bears defeated No. 2 seed Tennessee Wesleyan 1-0 to capture the 2023 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Women's Soccer Tournament championships on Friday.

This marks the second year in a row Truett McConnell has won the crown.

Eliska Dvorakova netted the game's only goal in the 21st minute, giving the Bears a 1-0 lead. Truett McConnell missed an opportunity to add to its lead in the 67th when it was awarded a penalty kick. However, the kick went wide to keep it a one-goal game.

Despite the miss, Tennessee Wesleyan struggled to mount any form of an attack as its lone shot on goal game in the 73rd minute.

Dvorakova scored two goals and had two assists during tournament, earning her Tournament MVP honors. Joining her on the All-Tournament Team are Lyndsey Darden, Ella Weir, and Annabel Kesinger of Truett McConnell; Krista Eik Hardardottir, Jordan Smith, and Anna-Lean Strauss of Tennessee Wesleyan; Hailey Resetar and Thais Roberto of Columbia Interational; and Aryn Parrish and Marta Vicente-Arche of Reinhardt.

Truett McConnell already received an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament by winning the regular-season championships. Since Truett McConnell also won the tournament, Tennessee Wesleyan receives the league's second automatic berth to nationals.

The pairings for the NAIA Opening Round will be announced on Monday.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Tuesday, Oct. 31 (at the higher seed's home site)
Game 1 - No. 7 Milligan (10-8-1) def. No. 10 Pikeville (6-11-2), 1-0 (box)
Game 2 - No. 9 Brenau (9-8-0) def. No. 8 Bryan (7-10-1), 1-0 (2OT) (box)

Saturday, Nov. 4 (at the higher seed's home site)
Game 3 - No. 1 Truett McConnell (15-2-2) def. No. 9 Brenau (9-9-0), 3-1 (box)
Game 4 - No. 2 Tennessee Wesleyan (15-1-1) def. No. 7 Milligan (10-9-1), 5-0 (box)
Game 5 - No. 3 Reinhardt (13-5-1) def. No. 6 Columbia (10-6-3), 4-0 (box)
Game 6 - No. 5 Columbia International (11-5-1) def. No. 4 Montreat (11-6-0), 2-1 (2OT) (box)

Tuesday, Nov. 7 (at the higher seed's home site)
Game 7 - No. 1 Truett McConnell (16-2-2) def. No. 5 Columbia International (11-6-1), 3-0 (box)
Game 8 - No. 2 Tennessee Wesleyan (16-1-1) def. No. 3 Reinhardt (13-6-1), 3-0 (box)

Friday, Nov. 10 - Championship Game (at the higher seed's home site)
 Game 9 - No. 1 Truett McConnell (17-2-2) def. No. 2 Tennessee Wesleyan (16-2-1),  1-0 (box)