BEHREND, PITT-GREENSBURG ADVANCE TO WOMEN'S SOCCER TITLE GAME
Top seeded Penn State Behrend and No. 2 Pitt-Greensburg each recorded victories in the AMCC women's soccer semifinals to advance to the championship match slated for Saturday afternoon.
#1 Penn State Behrend d. #5 Penn State Altoona, 4-0
The No. 1 Penn State Behrend women's soccer team defeated No. 5 Penn State Altoona 4-0 in the AMCC semifinals on Wednesday night, advancing to the AMCC Championship game on Saturday afternoon.
With the shutout in the semifinal roudn, the Lions have yet to give up a goal to a conference opponent this season, as Behrend will take a nine-game winning streak into the championship game. Junior midfielder Marlene Andrade scored a pair of goals and assisted on another, while Rachel Sickeri tallied two assists. Andrade netted her seventh and eighth goal of the season, beginning with the game-winner. Just 2:16 into the game, Andrade was awarded a penalty kick that as stopped by Altoona goalkeeper Mya Torres. Andrade got the rebound off the save for a 1-0 lead. Less than two minutes later, Rori Kostos scored her seventh goal off a pair of passes from Sickeri and Lindsey Pawlawski. Pawlawski sent a through ball to Sickeri toward the endline and Sickeri put the ball in the box for Kostos, who had her ball saved by Torres but it came loose and went over the goal line. At the 54:30 mark of the second half, Andrade scored again off a free kick that was tapped by Sickeri for a 3-0 lead. Bri Ross added the final goal for the Lions at the 56:52 mark off a pass from Andrade
#2 Pitt-Greensburg d. #3 Alfred State, 0-0 (3-2 PKs)
In a thrilling AMCC semifinal matchup at Ridilla Field, the Pitt-Greensburg women's soccer team battled Alfred State to a scoreless draw through 110 minutes of regulation and overtime before emerging victorious in a penalty shootout.
The Bobcats controlled much of the match, outshooting the Pioneers 14-7. The Bobcats nearly found the back of the net early in the first half, but Alfred State keeper Madeline Cox held firm in net. After two full halves of action, plus two overtime periods, neither team could find the back of the net.
The game headed to a shootout with Alfred State's Ava Bruehwiler converting first, and Pitt-Greensburg's Megan Hickey matching that for the Bobcats. Alfred State took a 2-1 lead via a Karlee Hargather make before UPG's Maya Wertelet made it 2-2. After two huge saves from Bobcat goalkeeper Kira Howcroft, Isabella Swartz buried the fouth attempt for UPG, giving them a 3-2 advantage with one round remaining. Alfred State stepped up to the mark and Howcroft once again made a diving save to give the Bobcats the 3-2 PK victory.
Penn State Behrend and Pitt-Greensburg will now square off in the AMCC Championship game on Saturday at Behrend Stadium. Kick off will take place at 2:00 p.m.