DeLand, Fla. – Natalie Simon (Lauderhill, Fla.) came off the bench to spark the offense and lead Stetson (11-6-2) to a 2-1 win over Campbell (9-9-2) in Saturday’s quarterfinal game of the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship Tournament. Simon’s relentless hustle led to her scoring the game’s first goal, and then setting up the eventual game-winner.

The A-Sun’s back-to-back Player of the Year Tessa Gavilsky (Granite City, Ill.) picked up an assist on Simon’s goal and then scored the eventual game-winner two minutes later.

After Stetson controlled the field of play for the majority of the first half, Simon’s goal finally came in the 36th minute. Kristen Higel (St. Augustine, Fla.) started the play with a through ball to Gavilsky who stopped the ball with her chest, turned, and flipped it over the top of the defenders to Simon in deep. Simon made a move and drilled the ball past the keeper to put Stetson up 1-0. It was the third goal of the season for Simon.

Riding the momentum two minutes later, Simon was hustling for a scoring chance deep in the box and ended up creating a corner kick opportunity for the Hatters. Emily Ware (St. Petersburg, Fla.) ripped a perfect corner kick into the box that found Gavilsky. The league’s top scorer blasted a header past the Campbell keeper for her 11th goal as well as her 29th and 30th points of the season.

After coming out of the break Stetson allowed a goal in the 57th minute, and then held on for the 2-1 win.

“A win is a win. The second half was not pretty, but it was effective”, said Stetson Head Coach Julie Orlowski. “I have to give them credit. They could have given up but they didn’t. Campbell did a good job of getting us out of our rhythm in the second half.”

Although Stetson could not put Campbell away with a clinching goal late, the Hatters midfield and back four held their ground and played well.

“Crossley Simmons at center midfield and Kristen Higel in the back played 90 minutes for us. They were two of our players of the game”, said Orlowski. “Up front it was Natalie Simon who was the difference maker.”

“Tessa was sick and not feeling well all night. The sign of a good player is when you don’t have it, yet still produce”, she added.   

Next up for the #3 Hatters will be a semifinal showdown with #2 Belmont in the A-Sun Final Four. The game will be played at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday November 5 in Kennesaw, Georgia. #1 Kennesaw State will follow with a 7:00 p.m. game against #4 Jacksonville. All four teams finished the regular season separated by just three points (KSU and Belmont had 21, Stetson 20, and JU 19).

“Lisa (Howe, Belmont Head Coach) does a great job preparing her team. They have had time to prepare for this game and we have the momentum of our win tonight which should balance each other out”, said Orlowski. “If there is one game we would like back from this season it was our (1-1 tie) game up there. She is a good friend and I am looking forward to a rematch.”

Last season it was Belmont that defeated Stetson 2-0 in the first round and eliminated the Hatters from the A-Sun tournament.

“I would also like to thank our fans for a great turnout. They were our 12th man tonight. With Halloween and the world series going on it was an impressive crowd”, she added.