By Dave Schutte
Enquirer contributor

WILDER, Ky. - Jessica Dotson, a junior striker for Nebraska-Omaha, denied the Northern Kentucky University women's soccer team its fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II Final Four.

Picking up a loose ball at midfield, Dotson dribbled through four NKU defenders before scoring from 20 yards out, giving Nebraska-Omaha a 1-0 victory over the Norse at Town & Country Sports Complex.

The Mavericks (21-0), in their fourth year of existence, advance to the Final Four on Dec.5-7 in Virginia Beach, Va. NKU closes the season at 20-1-2.

"The ball played up to me and I somehow got through their defenders," Dotson said of her tally with 19:36 remaining in the game. "I didn't have time to think, and I just kicked it toward the goal. After it went in, I hugged the closest teammate."

Dotson isn't known as a scorer, and the goal was only her third this season.

"I played center midfield in high school and didn't score many goals," Dotson said. "This was by far the biggest of my career."

NKU coach Bob Sheehan acknowledged Dotson's effort.

"She (Dotson) had great ball-handling skills and dribbled through three or four defenders," Sheehan said. "I'm pleased with our defense in the game and this season. It was a great individual effort."

The Norse had three excellent scoring opportunities, two in the first half.

Ten minutes into the game, Kristen Noakes' hard, high shot hit the crossbar and went over the net. With 23:25 remaining in the first half, Bessie Black's header was about 2 feet wide.

"We had scoring opportunities but didn't capitalize," Sheehan said. "Bessie and Kristen had great efforts. I thought for sure that Stephanie's shot was in, but the wind may have had an effect on it."

Sheehan was referring to Stephanie Sandfoss' try with 19:36 remaining.

Nebraska-Omaha goalie Amy Price came out 15 yards to stop a shot. She knocked the ball toward Sandfoss, who took a shot on the ground. The rolling ball hit the post but went wide of the open net.

It turned out to be NKU's final chance since the Mavericks tightened their defense down the stretch..

"(The Norse) are by far the best team we've played," Nebraska-Omaha coach Don Klosterman said. "They're No.1 and we knew it would be a tough game. Keeping the game scoreless at halftime was important because it gave our kids confidence."

The Mavericks controlled the first 10 minutes of the game before the Norse took over and kept the pressure on Nebraska-Omaha's defense for the next 25 minutes. During the second half, neither team dominated in an evenly played, back-and-forth 45 minutes.

"This was the first game we played on an artificial-surface field and we had to make adjustments," Dotson said. "We're a ball-control team, and the biggest adjustment was passing the ball because the surface was so much faster."