Box Score Bangor, ME- Husson Women's Soccer advanced to the NAC Semifinals Sunday afternoon on penalty kicks against Maine Maritime.
The Eagles entered the match ranked 3rd in North Atlantic Conference play, facing MMA who was ranked 6th. In a regular season match earlier this year Husson defeated MMA 1-0.
Husson had a strong offensive showing getting 37 shots on the match, but were unable to get a ball into net for the first 110 minutes of the game. In the first half, Husson dominated possession and shots on goal 16-2.
Husson defenders came up huge stopping any offensive pressure from the Mariners who were held to just 3 shots.
Mariners sophomore goalkeeper Taylor O'Malley (Middletown, RI) made a number of huge plays including one stop coming in the 23rd minute when Eagles first year Hannah Clough (Mount Vernon, ME) had a one on one opportunity on net. O'Malley came out of the box to stop a ball that then bounced out of her hands, but she quickly pounced on the ball, once again protecting her net.
Another great opportunity for the Eagles came at the end of the first overtime when Husson turned up the pressure and sophomore Desir'ee Hamler (Franklin, NJ) found herself with just O'Malley to beat, O'Malley stopped the ball and sent it into second overtime.
The second overtime saw no scoring, but certainly did not lack excitement keeping everyone on the edge of their seats. The game was to be decided on penalty kicks.
Husson counted on senior captain Meghan O'Neil (Hartford, VT) to take the first penalty kick and she came up huge setting the tempo netting the ball beyond O'Malley's reach. Maine Maritime senior Kari Jones went next and her shot was just left of the net. Husson sophomore Michaela Bicknell's (West Addison, VT) attempt was high keeping it at 1-0 Husson.
Hannah Page went next for the Mariners and snuck the ball into the net tying it up at 1-1. Marcy Francoeur was up next for the Eagles and placed the ball again past O'Malley, making it 2-1 Husson.
MMA called on their goalkeeper O'Malley to take the next shot against Husson sophomore goalkeeper Jess Poulin (Albion, ME). In a battle of the keepers Poulin stopped O'Malley' shot keeping Husson up 2-1.
First year Katie Cyr (Hampden, ME) added another one for Husson making it 3-1. Mariners Ally Fuehrer added another shot for MMA making it 3-2 but junior Becca Jones (Newmarket, NH) sealed the deal for the Eagles sinking her shot and clinching the quarterfinal victory for Husson who advanced on penalty kicks 4-2.
"We got the result we needed today and actually played a good game, though our finishing was a definite problem. MMA deserves credit for playing a tough, physical match against us. We are excited to move into the semis and face Castleton again." Said Coach Carly Gettler after the victory.
Husson will travel to Castleton, the number 2 seed in the NAC Championship, Wednesday October 31. Game time is to be determined.
Bangor, ME- Husson Women's Soccer advanced to the NAC Semifinals Sunday afternoon on penalty kicks against Maine Maritime.
The Eagles entered the match ranked 3rd in North Atlantic Conference play, facing MMA who was ranked 6th. In a regular season match earlier this year Husson defeated MMA 1-0.
Husson had a strong offensive showing getting 37 shots on the match, but were unable to get a ball into net for the first 110 minutes of the game. In the first half, Husson dominated possession and shots on goal 16-2.
Husson defenders came up huge stopping any offensive pressure from the Mariners who were held to just 3 shots.
Mariners sophomore goalkeeper Taylor O'Malley (Middletown, RI) made a number of huge plays including one stop coming in the 23rd minute when Eagles first year Hannah Clough (Mount Vernon, ME) had a one on one opportunity on net. O'Malley came out of the box to stop a ball that then bounced out of her hands, but she quickly pounced on the ball, once again protecting her net.
Another great opportunity for the Eagles came at the end of the first overtime when Husson turned up the pressure and sophomore Desir'ee Hamler (Franklin, NJ) found herself with just O'Malley to beat, O'Malley stopped the ball and sent it into second overtime.
The second overtime saw no scoring, but certainly did not lack excitement keeping everyone on the edge of their seats. The game was to be decided on penalty kicks.
Husson counted on senior captain Meg O'Neil (Hartford, VT) to take the first penalty kick and she came up huge setting the tempo netting the ball to O'Malley's left. Maine Maritime senior Kari Jones went next and her shot was just left of the net. Husson sophomore Michaela Bicknell's (West Addison, VT) attempt went just high of the crossbar keeping it at 1-0 Husson.
Hanna Page went next for the Mariners and snuck the ball into the high left corner tying it up at 1-1. Marcy Francoeur was up next for the Eagles and placed the ball again to O'Malley's left and in, making it 2-1 Husson.
MMA called on their goalkeeper O'Malley to take the next shot against Husson sophomore goalkeeper Jess Poulin (Albion, ME). In a battle of the keepers Poulin stopped O'Malley' shot keeping Husson up 2-1.
First year Katie Cry (Hampden, ME) added another one for Husson making it 3-1. Mariners Ally Fuehrer added another shot for MMA making it 3-2 but junior Becca Jones (Newmarket,NH) sealed the deal for the Eagles sinking her shot and clinching the quarterfinal victory for Husson who advanced on penalty kicks 4-2.
"We got the result we needed today and actually played a good game, though our finishing was a definite problem. MMA deserves credit for playing a tough, physical match against us. We are excited to move into the semis and face Castleton again." Said Coach Carly Gettler after the victory.
Husson will travel to Castleton, the number 2 seed in the NAC Championship, Wednesday October 31. Game time is to be determined.
