Tyler Junior College blanks Eastern Florida State to reach final

Tyler Junior College is back in the championship game of the NJCAA Division I Women's Soccer National Championship Tournament.

The Apaches defeated Eastern Florida State College 4-0 in the second semifinal to return to the final for the second straight year.

"We are humbled to be back there because we know there are great teams that aren't here," Tyler Junior College Corey Rose said. "We have a new group of kids and it is fun to see them experience this. Getting back is the goal every year, but I am humbled to be here."

One of those new players is freshman midfielder Hitomi Konno who scored two of the four Tyler Junior College goals on Friday night.

Freshman Katelyn Renfro got the Apaches on the board five minutes into the game. It was Renfro's ninth goal of the season.

"At this point of the tournament you don't have to say much, they just wanted it," Rose said. "It is a good group of kids and we beat a good team today. We just got the breaks today."

Meanwhile the Titans struggled to get anything going for much of the match. And when they did get good looks, goalkeeper Andrea Neves was there to make sure the Apaches would not be denied a chance for the title.

"It wasn't our night," Eastern Florida State College women's soccer coach Jeff Carr said. "I think the effort was there but we knew it wasn't going to be our night when we missed the PK. They got on top of us quick and I think we were in shock a bit. We never recovered."

Katie Lockwood hit a nice shot on the penalty kick in the second half, but Tyler Junior College goalkeeper Andrea Neves made a diving save to keep the Titans off the scoreboard. It was one of six saves for Neves.

Tyler Junior College will play ASA Brooklyn, who defeated Phoenix College in the first semifinal for the national championship title at 7 p.m. Saturday at Eastern Florida State College.