It was business as usual at Blackstock Field.
DePauw, the No. 1 seed in the NCAC conference championships, faced No. 4 seed Ohio Wesleyan University on Thursday afternoon in the semifinals and won 3-0. With the win, the Tigers advanced to Saturday's NCAC title game now 18-1 on the season.
The last two times the Tigers faced the Battling Bishops (10-8) the game was decided in overtime or the final moments of the second quarter.
One minute into the game, DePauw was awarded two consecutive penalty corners, which set the tone for the afternoon.
The Tigers held a 16-1 advantage over Ohio Wesleyan in penalty corners. Senior Margaret Ellis and sophomore Paige Henry took advantage of a corner opportunity to connect for the first goal of game.
"I was really glad to get a goal in the beginning to relieve some of the pressure," Henry said after the game. "We discussed what the goalie didn't do well, and used that to my advantage to place the ball."
Ohio Wesleyan started the second half without tallying a shot on offense while racking up nine saves on defense. Junior Chelsea Cutler took a left side penalty corner three minutes into the second and passed to Ellis, who put another goal on the board for DePauw with a lofty shot over the defense and into the net.
Sophomore Maggie Steele recorded with Div. III leading 14th shutout of the season, and Cutler - along with DePauw's defense - challenged the Battling Bishops leading scorer Montana Knapp throughout the game and held Ohio Wesleyan's offense to zero shots on goal the entire game.
"I think the main thing we need to do is to keep staying patient on defense," Henry said. "The other team gets frantic and doesn't know what to do with it if you give them a little space."
Sophomore Maggie Campbell picked up a pass from freshman Grace Goodbarn in the middle of the circle and slid one past the goalkeeper in the 44th minute for a 3-0 lead.
"It's very exciting to play [Ohio Wesleyan] again and they are a strong team," head coach Gina Wills said. "We were able to score on corners today, and I think that will be key again to get some space inside the corners to be successful."
DePauw will face Denison University (15-5) in a repeat of last year's final game where the Tigers lost 2-0. The NCAC championship game will be Saturday at Blackstock Field at 12 p.m.