Marywood Advances to CSAC Championships in Shootout
Sophomore goalkeeper Meghan Coyle stopped the first two Cabrini PK attempts as Marywood advanced to the CSAC Championship game Saturday

Marywood Advances to CSAC Championships in Shootout

- 11/5/2008 4:29:41 PM

Box Score

Scranton, PA - Junior captain Lisa Hanselman scored the game-tying goal with less than seven minutes to play to force overtime and sophomore keeper Meghan Coyle made saves on the first two Cabrini penalty kicks as host Marywood University advanced to the CSAC championship game for the first time in school history with a thrilling 3-0 win in a shootout after a 1-1 double-overtime tie with the Cavaliers.

The top-seeded Pacers, who also advance in the playoffs for the first time in school history, will host second-seeded Gwynedd-Mercy College on Saturday at 1:00 pm with an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III tournament on the line. The Griffins won their semifinal tilt with Centenary 1-0 Wednesday afternoon.

Despite having equal opportunities over the game's opening 30 minutes, neither team could solve the other's back-line and the score remained deadlocked at 0-0 late into the first half. With both teams making substitutions to rest starters for the second half, Cabrini took advantage of a Marywood miscue and Samantha Thompson capitalized, ripping a blast past Coyle for the game's first goal in the 38th minute of play.

The Pacers had several dangerous chances to open the second half, but then had to hold off Cabrini's Sabini DeGisi. The junior forward had several dangerous attacks but could not capitalize. With the Cavaliers winning the battle for midfield thanks to outstanding play from CSAC Co-Player of the Year Nikki Duggan, Marywood finally got the break they needed in the 84th minute when Hanselman (Manheim, PA) capitalized on a loose ball in front of the Cavalier goalmouth and knocked in her team-leading ninth goal of the year.

Neither team could capitalize on the other in the two overtime periods, with Marywood out-shooting the visitors 15-10 on the day. Gianna Porretta made three stops for the Cavaliers to help force overtime while Marywood's Coyle (Endicott, NY) made four.

In the shootout, Coyle stepped up big by blocking the first two Cavalier attempts, while Tayler Simmons (Hopewell Junction, PA) and Mandy Costello (Sussex, NJ) both buried their attempts for the Pacers. With the third Cabrini attempt sailing wide-right, senior captain Kristin Powers (Landenberg, PA) stepped up and blasted her attempt into the left-side netting for the win.

Saturday the Pacers will be seeking the school's first NCAA tournament berth since 1987 when the women's basketball team earned the Pacers only trip to an NCAA tournament.
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