ERIE, Pa. – The top-seeded Penn State Behrend women's soccer team advances to the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) championship game after edging No. 4 D'Youville 4-2 in penalty kicks on Wednesday night.
The Lions (14-4-1) and the Spartans (8-7-3) battled to a 0-all tie through regulation and two overtime periods to force penalty kicks to determine the second team vying for the AMCC title. No. 3 Franciscan defeated Mt. Aloysius 4-1 earlier in the day in the other AMCC semifinal. Behrend and the Barons will square off for the conference crown on Saturday at 4 p.m.
Behrend took a season-high 49 shots during the 110 minutes played. In the second half, Rachel Weyand (Butler, PA/Butler) fired a left-footed shot that hit the top of the crossbar in the 65th minute. Three minutes later, Laura Schaefer (Erie, PA/General McLane) had a sequence of three shots with the first being saved by Megan Dulniak, the second hitting the crossbar and the rebound shot was sent over the post.
Dulniak made some big plays in goal for D'Youville, including back-to-back stops with less than 15 minutes left to play to keep the Lions off the scoreboard. The junior finished with 28 saves with eight coming in overtime.
Behrend started the penalty kicks with a goal from Schaefer and then Marina Campbell evened the score at 1-all for the Spartans. Olivia Belack (Upper St. Clair, PA/Upper St. Clair) and Magan Magee also buried their shots to keep it tied.
Jordan Oberlander (Waterford, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) and Jillian Golding missed on the third attempt for both teams. Caroline Mashyna (Erie, PA/Waterford) hit the crossbar and the ball bounced into the goal for the Lions fourth kick and a 3-2 lead.
Ania Gorski (Harborcreek, PA/Harbor Creek) made a save on Jenna Tomizzi's kick for D'Youville, leaving Behrend with one more goal for the win. Ashlyn Whipple (Washington, PA/Canon McMillan) netted her shot and the final penalty kick for the Lions to help them advance to the title game.
