Pacers Notch Eighth Conference Win, Top Cabrini 3-2
Erica Mechalke set-up Lisa Hanselman's game-winning goal Saturday in the Pacers win over Cabrini

Pacers Notch Eighth Conference Win, Top Cabrini 3-2

- 10/18/2008 5:26:28 PM

Box Score

Scranton, PA - Marywood University rebounded from two one-goal deficits and Lisa Hanselman scored the game-winner as Marywood University improved to 8-0 in the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) with a 3-2 thrilling win over visiting Cabrini College Saturday afternoon in Scranton.  Coupled with a Gwynedd-Mercy 1-0 loss to Centenary Saturday afternoon, the Pacers (11-4-1) clinched the top seed in the CSAC playoffs and home-field advantage. 

After a back-and-forth first half as both teams tried to figure eachother out, Cabrini (6-8, 3-3 CSAC) jumped out to a 1-0 lead when the Cavaliers were awarded a direct kick on top of the penalty box in the center of the field. Cavalier freshman Kara Hinkelmon stepped up and drilled a shot to the lower left corner around the wall for the game's first goal. Cabrini would carry that lead into the halftime break as both teams generated five shots in the opening half.

Marywood answered in the 68th minute when freshman Tayler Simmons (Hopewell Junction, NY) notched her fifth goal of the season on a direct kick from the corner of the 18. The Cavaliers quickly answered, however, and reclaimed a 2-1 lead when Sabina DeGisi scored on a breakaway under a minute later at the 68:36 mark. The Pacers got the equalizer in the 73rd minute when Kaitlin Hresko (Gibbstown, NJ) one-timed a cross from twin-sister Shannon Hresko off a direct kick.

With just over five minutes to play, a quick switch of fields by Erica Mechalke (Elmira, NY) led to Hanselman's (Manheim, PA) heroics. Hanselman calmly collected Mechalke's cross and one-timed the ball past the charging Cabrini keeper and proceeded to slide the ball near-post for the game-winner, her team-leading sixth tally of the year.

Cabrini out-shot the hosts 11-10 on the day and Cavalier net-minder Gianna Poretta made four saves on the day. Marywood's Meghan Coyle (Endicott, NY) made five stops, including a point-blank diving save with just a few minutes remaining, to prevent the Cavaliers from forcing overtime.

Marywood will enjoy a week off before facing Immaculata University next Saturday at 2:00 in their final home game of the regular season.
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