EDWARDSVILLE, Pa.-At the end of the year, every team just
wants to play another day. Eastern University Women's Soccer earned a
chance to do that with a 5-4 penalty kick win over Wilkes University in
the Freedom Conference Semifinals. For the second time this year,
neither team was able to find the net through 110 minutes.
Eastern
made five straight kicks, after Wilkes' goalkeeper Hayley Kay made a
great save to stop Ashley Graybill's shot to the upper left corner.
Alysia Goodman made diving stops on the Colonels' second kick and sixth
kick. After Emily Roquemore tied the game at 4-4 with a clutch shot on
the fifth kick, the match went to sudden victory. Goodman made the save,
and Kelsey Spoelstra had enough power on her shot to get it through
Kay's fingertip effort for the win.
"There was nothing attractive
about that," Head Coach Dan Mouw said after the match, "We were good
going forward for about 40 minutes, and then we hung on. Alysia
[Goodman] made some great plays in the run of play and in penalty
kicks."
Goodman, who shot fourth for the Eagles in the shootout,
was credited with 11 saves during the match. Her best save of the match
came on a low shot through traffic in the 97th minute.
The Eagles
had a 4-2 edge in corners through the opening 45 minutes had several
chances to score, but Wilkes' Starter Kate Mahoney made two of her four
stops in the opening period. Her best save came on a shot from in the
box by Amy Thomas that she parried over the bar.
The Colonels
controlled much of the play in the second period, but Goodman was on the
spot for five stops and was able to keep her squad out of trouble with
superior box management.
The Eagles had a final chance at a
game-winner in the run of play in the 105th minute, but Kelsey
Doutrich's shot from a tight angle slid just past the right upright and
the game ended without a goal.
"We knew going in that neither team
gives up much in the back," Mouw concluded, "so there was some thought
that it might come down to this, and our players made the play when it
was their chance. We will have to play better in regulation on Sunday."
The
Eagles travel to Misericordia University for the Freedom Conference
Championship match against the top-seeded Cougars on Sunday at noon.
Check the women's soccer schedule page for video and live stat links.
Box Score