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Semifinal #1
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#1 Saint Francis (PA) 0, #4 Sacred Heart 0 (SFPA advances in PKs, 4-3)
Loretto, PA -- It was a back-andforth affair the entire 90 minutes of play and with the score knotted at 0-0 after two overtimes, the day's first semi-final game between #1 Saint Francis (PA) and # 4 Sacred Heart came down to penalty kicks to decide who would advance to Sunday’s championship match and it was the host Red Flash emerging victorious 4-3 on Friday afternoon at DeGol Field in Loretto.
As was the entire game, the two teams traded points matching goals for saves during the PK’s. Then with the kicks then tied at 3 apiece Red Flash junior Katy LaBelle (Warwick, RI/Toll Gate) stepped to the line and slipped one past Sacred Heart goalie Sydney Judkins (South Park, PA/South Park) to give Saint Francis the 4-3 edge. Flash goalkeeper Brianna Butcher (East Longmeadow, MA/East Longmeadow) then made her biggest save of the season, knocking down what would be the final PK of the day from SHU junior Elizabeth Stewart (Seaford, NY/Plainedge). For LaBelle her first point of the season couldn’t have come at a time as the tally allows the Red Flash to advance to their second consecutive NEC Championship.
Scoring for Saint Francis in the shoot out were Jennifer Brennan (Northport, NY/Northport, Ellie Gavin (Hilliard, OH/Bishop Watterson) and Aryn Askin (Scottdale, PA/Southmoreland) while Sacred Heart’s Jen Mulvey (Manalapan, NJ/St. John Vianney, Jillian Picinich (Bellmore, NY/Mepham) and Kristin Verrette (Saugus, MA/Bishop Fenwick) tallied scores for the Pioneers.
Both teams posted similar stats during the first ninety minutes of play with Sacred Heart narrowly outshot Saint Francis 10-9. Second team Al-Conference member Bolter led the Flash with three shots, two of which were on goal, while both Ashley Moore (Levittown, NY/Island Trees) and All-Rookie team member Verrette notched three shots a piece. The Red Flash held the edge on corner kicks 7-4 while Judkins posted four saves to Butchers two.
Saint Francis (PA) takes on #2 Long Island in the NEC Championship match on Sunday, Nov. 6 at DeGol Field in Loretto, PA. Kick-off is slated for 12:00 p.m.
Semifinal #2
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#2 Long Island 2, #3 Monmouth 1 (2 OT)
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Loretto, PA -- Second-seeded Long Island overcame a one-goal deficit in the second half to tie #3 Monmouth 1-1, the tie lasted for the remainder of regulation sending the bout into overtime. After a back and forth overtime, senior Ariana Calderon (Sacramento, CA/St. Xavier) scored off a penalty kick in the fifteenth minute of extra time, punching the Blackbird’s ticket to Sunday’s Northeast Conference Championship game.
From the start it was a back and forth tilt in which both teams tried to establish an extended period of offensive possession. Near the close of the first half Monmouth controlled the ball in their offensive end and were able to sneak a goal past 2011 NEC Goalie of the Year Jennifer Bannon (East Greenwich, RI/East Greenwich). The dynamic duo of first team All-Conference members Stacey Kadell (Upper Saddle River, NJ/ Northern Highlands Regional) and Dana Costello (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) were responsible for the point off a set piece as Kadell took a touch from Costello and bent in an 18-yard left-footed shot around the LIU wall into the corner of the netting. The tally allowed the Hawks take a one goal lead into halftime.
Ten minutes into the second half the Blackbirds snapped the tie when Kayleigh Morgan (Harlow, England/St. Marks) kicked in the cross she received from Ruby Leon (Fontana, CA/San Bernardino Valley College) on the right side. The teams then traded possessions for the rest of regulation. With the score still tied at 1-1 after ninety minutes extra time was needed to decide the winner. Both squads continued to battle in the midfield for much of extra time until the 105th minute when Calderon took the line and booted in the penalty kick.
The Blackbirds outshot the Hawks by an 8-3 margin and extend their current winning streak to eight. Monmouth All-Rookie goaltender Jocelyn McCoy (Crofton, MD/Archbishop Spalding) posted two saves in the effort.
Long Island will now face the number one seeded Saint Francis (PA) Red Flash in Sunday’s championship match at DeGol Field in Loretto. Game time is set for 12:00 p.m.