BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – A 24th-minute goal by Aleksi Pahkasalo was the difference maker for the Lindsey Wilson men's soccer team as the top-seeded Blue Raiders defeated fourth-seeded Cumberlands (Ky.) 1-0 on Thursday night in the Mid-South Conference Semifinals at Jim Ross Field at Warren East High School.

With the win, No. 16-ranked Lindsey Wilson (13-4-1) earns a spot in the championship match on Friday at 7:30 p.m. CT against the winner of second-seeded Campbellsville (Ky.) and third-seeded Cumberland (Tenn.).

It marks the seventh victory in a row for the Blue Raiders and seventh-consecutive shutout.

Lindsey Wilson won the regular season meeting 7-0 earlier this year between these two teams, but the score line was much closer this time around as the Patriots (6-11-3) refused to budge for the most of the match on the defensive end.

Lindsey Wilson created the majority of chances in the opening 45 minutes of play - unleashing 17 shots compared to Cumberlands' three - but was able to find the back of the net just once.

The Blue Raiders put eight shots on target but Cumberlands' keeper Ahmed Ghatwary was up to the task, saving all but one shot.

The first quality Lindsey Wilson chance came in the 14th minute, but Pahkasalo saw his free kick saved with a diving effort. The Blue Raiders created another scoring chance in the 17th minute when Pahkasalo fed a ball through the middle to the speedy Andrew Revanales. Revanales was able to juke his way past the keeper, but he was unable to catch up to the ball before a Cumberlands defender tracked back to clear it out of danger.

Lindsey Wilson finally broke the scoreless tie in the 24th minute.

Revanales dribbled to the left near the 18-yard box, drawing the defense in. He then stopped, and turned back to his right and fed a ball to an open Pahkasalo 12 yards out. The MSC Player of the Year dribbled twice and then laced a powerful shot high into the net to put the Blue Raiders ahead 1-0.

Lindsey Wilson continued to put pressure on throughout the half, forcing the Cumberlands' defensive backs to dive in front of shots and Ghatwary to make multiple saves. The Patriots had a handful of free kicks around 30 yards out, but were unable to produce anything as Lindsey Wilson carried the 1-0 lead into the break.

Lindsey Wilson again created chances in the first 15 minutes of the second half taking five shots, but none were on target. Three shots were blocked and the other two missed the post by inches.

Another scoring chance came in the 62nd minute when Dioulde Niane ripped a dipping shot from 35 yards out that rattled off the crossbar and bounced straight down, inches from crossing the goal line, before Ghatwary was able to corral it.

Lindsey Wilson was unable to put a shot on target in the second half, but limited Cumberlands to just one total shot in the final 45 minutes, which came with 6:30 to play.

The Blue Raiders outshot the Patriots 30-4 for the match, 11 shots which were blocked away by the Cumberlands defense.

Lindsey Wilson advances to the MSC Tournament Finals where the Blue Raiders have lifted the trophy 12 times since joining the league in 2000.

The championship match kicks off from Jim Ross Field at Warren East High School on Friday at 7:30 p.m. CT.