Following a 3-1 loss to Otterbein on October 8, few would have predicted a No. 2 seed and a semifinal berth in the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament for the John Carroll University women's soccer team.

The Blue Streaks stood at 3-6-3. They had not won since September 17, going 0-3-2 in their last five games.

But then, something amazing occurred. The team held a meeting and decided to stop accepting mistakes and losses. The squad's seven seniors took ownership of the team and caused a culture change inside of the program, one centered on accountability.

The results are undeniable.

The Blue Streaks haven't lost since. The seven-game win streak began four days later against Marietta, when the Blue and Gold captured a huge 7-0 victory over Marietta. Over the seven-game win streak, the offense has taken advantage of nearly every opportunity, and the defense has been stout in front of Haley McDonald, who has a renewed sense of confidence and fresh energy.

Ohio Northern will attempt to end JCU's red-hot stretch today at Don Shula Stadium at 7 p.m.

Live stats and a live video webcast will be available for the OAC semifinal round match at John Carroll.

The Polar Bears were unsuccessful in their first try on Oct. 25 in University Heights, falling victim to the Blue Streaks 3-0. Preston Mendel, Kristen Profeta and Kay Akerly each notched a goal in the victory.

But this matchup will be different. Everything is on the line for the Blue Streaks. Ranked #7 in the latest National Collegiate Soccer Association of America (NSCAA) Division III Great Lakes Region, JCU likely needs a win to reach the NCAA Division III playoffs.

The Polar Bears have found their stride, and will provide a stiff challenge for the Blue Streaks. ONU has won two games in a row, a 6-0 victory over Muskingum and a win decided in penalty kicks over Baldwin Wallace in the quarterfinal round of the OAC Tournament on Tuesday.

Standing at a respectable 10-8-2, the Polar Bears have outscored their opponents 35-22 this season. A number of players regularly contribute on offense for ONU. Juniors Sandra Thorarensen (8 goals, 2 assists) and Kristina Klusek (7 goals, 4 assists) are tied with the team lead in points with 18. Seniors Sami Atkinson (5 goals, 4 assists) and Sandy Plunkett (4 goals, 1 assist) also provide goals for the Polar Bears.

Sophomore goalie Emily Brodict is a stonewall in net for ONU. Brodict has blanked opponents four times this season, with 72 saves and just 20 goals allowed in 20 games. She is credited with nine of the team's 10 wins, boasting a .783 save percentage.

The Blue Streaks will counter with a defensive approach. McDonald will look to extend her stretch of shutouts to eight against the Polar Bears. Defenders Kyla Sofo and Sarah Ruckstuhl will be critical to JCU's plans, as the duo has emerged as the team's top two options on defense.

On offense, the Blue and Gold are opportunistic. Though not the most dynamic offense, few chances slide by JCU. Kay Akerly has been responsible for much of the team's offense, leading the team in both goals (6) and assists (7). Nicki Bohrer also has six goals, providing points in the clutch. Kristen Profeta (4 goals, 1 assist), Preston Mendel (3 goals, 3 assists) and Genny Goergern (3 goals, 2 assists) have all supplied offense for the Blue and Gold at various points of the season to help the team reach this critical matchup.

John Carroll will look to advance to the championship game for a third consecutive year. The last time JCU made three consecutive Ohio Athletic Conference championship matches was 1999, 2000 and 2001. During that stretch,it took John Carroll three tries to win its first and only OAC title in 2001.

The Blue Streaks are hoping the third time can be a charm once again.