Blackshire_8956
Carey Action Photography
0
Centenary (NJ) CEWS (5-10-1)
4
Winner Marywood University MUWS (13-4)
Centenary (NJ) CEWS
(5-10-1)
0
Final
4
Marywood University MUWS
(13-4)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Centenary (NJ) CEWS 0 0 0
Marywood University MUWS 2 2 4

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

Women's Soccer Advances to AEC Championship, Hosts Cabrini Saturday

Pacers tie win streak record in 4-0 victory over Centenary

Scranton, Pa. - Madison Blackshire had two goals and an assist to lead top-seed Marywood University to a 4-0 win over #6 Centenary University and to a berth into the Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Championship game.

Marywood will host the title game Saturday against #2 Cabrini, a 2-0 winner over #4 Neumann in the other semifinal, for the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III National Championship tournament.

Marywood (13-4) tied a program record with their ninth consecutive win. That feat was last accomplished by the Pacers in 2008 when they also went 9-0-0 from September 20 to October 18.

Blackshire kicked off the scoring for the Pacers when she finished the last of several close range attempts off a Antonella Doglio corner kick in the 12th minute. Doglio's kick found the front post, where several players took shots that were blocked. Blackshire got her foot on the ball, only to have her initial shot saved by Centenary's keeper. The rebound came right back to Blackshire, who put it home for a 1-0 Marywood lead.

Just over four minutes later, Victoria Tzitzis beat a defender at midfield, regained a deflected ball and dribbled in down the left flank before beating Centenary's Chelsea Estacio for a 2-0 Pacers' lead.

Five minutes into the second half, Josephine Sorce's bender from the left corner of the 18 off a feed from Blackshire found far-right netting as Marywood went up 3-0.

Blackshire would close the scoring on the day in the 86th minute. Brooke Longstreet played a direct kick from midfield to Ashlyn Jess down the right flank. Jess dribbled to the 18 and crossed it in where Blackshire one-timed it in.

Rebekah Becker made four stops in the win, including a brilliant first half save on a Cassandra Ferguson breakaway attempt.  

Marywood out-shot the Cyclones 33-6 (21-4 on goal) on the afternoon, and had a 10-3 advantage in corner kicks, including a 6-0 edge in the second half.

Estacio was busy all afternoon and made several brilliant second half saves for the visitors. She finished with 17 saves on the day. Centenary closes their season at 5-10-1.

Marywood has reached all three AEC title games since conference inception in 2018. The Pacers won the inaugural conference title in 2018 over Immaculata and were runner-up to Cabrini in 2019. There was no conference tournament in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 2021 marks the first year of NCAA Division III tournament automatic qualification for the Conference tournament champion.The Pacers and Cavaliers (10-5-3) will meet for the second consecutive time in the title game. The Pacers took the regular season meeting between the schools 3-0 in Radnor. 

Saturday's Championship tilt will begin at 1:00 pm. 
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