(Photo by Richard Robards)

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – A trio of Blue Raiders collected their first-career goals as the top-seeded Lindsey Wilson women's soccer team took down fourth-seeded Cumberlands (Ky.) 5-2 in the Mid-South Conference Semifinals on Thursday afternoon at Jim Ross Field at Warren East High School.

With the win, Lindsey Wilson (14-3-0) advances to the championship match on Friday at 5:30 p.m. CT against third-seeded Cumberland (Tenn.). The Blue Raiders have now reached every MSC Tournament Finals since joining the conference in 2000, lifting the tournament crown 14 of 16 times.

Emma Gustafsson, Ylberina Sylkaj and Eduarda Chagas all netted their first-career goals in a Blue Raider uniform to help Lindsey Wilson win their 12th-straight match.

Lindsey Wilson wasted little time to take the lead, scoring on its first shot of the game in the fourth minute.

Sylkaj sent in a cross on a corner kick into the six-yard box where it deflected once before Emma Gustafsson rose and headed it into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.

Shelby Austin doubled the Blue Raider lead in the 23rd minute. She made a darting run with the ball through the Patriot defense from her defensive position before being fouled just outside of the box. Austin then stepped up and delivered a free kick from 22 yards out that sailed up and over the Cumberlands' (10-9-1) wall and into the near post for the score.

Sylkaj nearly made it three when her left-footed effort inside the box clipped off the outside of the far post. Seconds later, Sylkaj found the back of the net in the 30th minute.

Veronica Kurtz-Martinez drove down the left flank to the end line before cutting a ball back to the middle where she found a waiting Sylkaj at the near post. Sylkaj one-timed the ball into the roof of the net to extend the lead to 3-0 for the Blue Raiders.

Lindsey Wilson added one more score just before the half in the 43rd minute.

Yvonne Ploeg threaded a perfectly timed through ball to Lyana Perez inside the 18-yard box, who saw her initial shot saved by Cumberlands' keeper Christie Funk. But Eduarda Chagas followed in behind and fired the rebound into the back of the net to make it a 4-0 lead.

Lindsey Wilson took seven shots in the opening half, putting six on target, while Cumberlands unleashed four shots, but none were on target.

Cumberlands applied heavy pressure early in the second half, eventually breaking through the Blue Raider defense in the 57th minute with a goal. Amerah Dixon swung a ball through the middle to Erin Bolis in space, who finished past Johanna Henriksson to break up the shutout.

Lindsey Wilson responded less than two minutes later with a goal, pushing the lead back to four.

Sylkaj started the attack after receiving a ball near midfield. She played a ball forward to Carlletia Savizon, who outran the Patriot defense and rounded the onrushing keeper before letting the ball run off to Perez, who tapped it home for the score. The score for Perez was her 41st-career goal, putting her into a tie for seventh place on the program's all-time list.

Cumberlands continued to battle and cut into the Blue Raider lead again with a goal in the 75th minute. Kathleen Scherer sent in a corner kick and Jody LeMaster climbed highest and headed it into the back of the net for the score.

Despite multiple attacking threats from the Patriots, Lindsey Wilson held strong for the final 15 minutes to secure the 5-2 win and a spot in the MSC Tournament championship match.

Cumberlands outshot Lindsey Wilson 13-8 for the game, including a 9-1 advantage in the second half.

Lindsey Wilson is back in action for the MSC Tournament finals on Friday at 5:30 p.m. CT at Jim Ross Field against Cumberland.