On Thursday night a second half goal by senior midfielder Sarah Gabriele (Mahwah, NJ, Eastern Christian) gave the Houghton College women's soccer team a 1-0 advantage over Mid-America Christian University in the final game of pool play at the NCCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship.
 
While the rain came down on an already soaked pitch, the Highlanders held off the Evangels last minute attacks for a victory that would send them to the final game of the national tournament against top-seeded, NCAA Division II, Mississippi College on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.
 
Since taking the helm of the women's soccer team at Houghton College in 1991, Coach David Lewis has accomplished many things, including, but definitely not limited to, the following:
        >Most career wins in NAIA women's soccer history (326—he has won 378 games total)
        >Six-time NSCAA NAIA Northeast Coach of the Year
        >24 consecutive appearances in post-season play
        >12 trips to the NAIA National Tournament and 4 consecutive trips to the NCCAA National
          Tournament since transitioning to NCAA Division III in 2012.
 
But on Saturday night, when Coach Lewis and the Highlander women take the pitch, they will do something that neither Coach Lewis or any other coach of a women's athletic team at Houghton College has ever done: compete for a national championship.
 
Below are a few questions we had the privilege to ask Coach Lewis this morning, followed by a preview of Saturday's NCCAA National Championship matchup.
 
What was going through your mind last night in those final minutes, especially at around the four minute mark when they played a very dangerous corner kick into the box?
 
[Laughs] It's funny because we had emphasized leading up to the game to try not to give up any corner kicks!  They had scored on a corner in their previous game, so it was definitely a nervous moment.  But our girls played hard right to the end.  It was great to see them finish so well.
 
You've won a lot of games, and accomplished a lot as a soccer coach during your tenure.  What did last night's win mean to you, personally?
 
It was very gratifying to see the players focus and perform so well.  It was gratifying to see them accomplish the tasks they set out to accomplish; to achieve one of their goals.
 
You've coached women's soccer at Houghton for 25 years and seen your teams accomplish lots of great things.  Would you talk about this team and what you've seen out of them this year?
 
They've been a team that has pursued improvement throughout the season.  They haven't settled for staying where they were.  They continuously want to make progress and get better.  They came to this tournament with the intention of being here for the entire tournament, and they kept saying, "We're playing in the championship on Saturday."
 
They are here to win this thing and they haven't settled for less.
 
I told them team on the way down that I want to learn from teams who have advanced in the past, but that they need to be themselves. 
 
We also talked about being "Focused but friendly."  I asked them to notice people.  Notice the maids who clean the rooms, notice the people who serve you food.  I've had more comments from bus driver, servers, hotel people and more about what great team we have.  I had a server in Chipotle say, "Wow, this is really a nice team."  The girls say thank you and recognize people.  It's been incredibly rewarding to see not only their performances on the field but their interactions with people off the field, too.
 
 
Turn your attention to Mississippi College.  What can you tell us about them?  What should we anticipate from tomorrow's matchup?
 
It's going to be a tough game.  They look good.  Fortunately, we don't have the weight of being the #1 team.  I think of that as a slight advantage. 
 
The girls are tired.  After last night's game they were exhausted.   Four games in six days is really tough.  But [Mississippi College] will be in the same boat.
 
They look very similar to us.  They possess, have good skills, and have some individuals who are dangerous.  I think we match up well against them.
 
I just want them to play quality soccer.  I think that if we play hard and play our style of soccer we should do well.
 
How They Got Here:
 
#1 Mississippi College Choctaws (16-3-4):
      >Finished regular season 12-3-3 and top team in Mideast Region
      >Advanced from Pool A with 2-0-1 record
                -Win vs. #8 Trinity Lutheran, 3-0
                -Win vs. #5 Central Christian, 4-0
                -Tie vs. #4 Trinity Christian, 1-1, 2OT
 
#2 Houghton College Highlanders (15-6-2):
      >Finished regular season 10-6-2
      >Won Midwest Region
                -Win vs. Lancaster Bible, 5-0
                -Win vs. Ohio Christian, 4-0
      >Advanced from Pool B with 3-0 record
                -Win vs. #7 Columbia International, 4-0
                -Win vs. #6 Warner, 5-0
                -Win vs. #3 Mid-America Christian, 1-0