Lucky Number Seven: Women's Soccer Wins AMCC Championship in Penalty Kicks

ALTOONA, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend women's soccer team captured its seventh Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Championship, upsetting Penn State Altoona 4-2 in penalty kicks for the victory on Saturday afternoon.

In a rematch of the 2010 AMCC title game, the fourth-seeded Lions (14-6-1) got revenge on top-seeded Altoona from last year and the regular-season loss to bring home the championship for the first time since 2007. Behrend earns the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The field is scheduled to be announced on Monday, with play beginning later in the week.

Defense was the name of the game today with a combined total of 13 shots taken. Playing through 110 scoreless minutes, the AMCC title came down to penalty kicks.

Heather Klimuszka (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena), who tallied the last shot attempt for the Lions in the second overtime, went to play in goal for the penalty kicks. The hosts went first and missed, followed by a goal from Behrend's Sam Vasy (North Huntingdon, PA/Norwin) for a 1-0 lead.

Meredith Barcia tied it up 1-1, before Emily Lewis (Washington, PA/Bishop Canevin) put the Lions ahead 2-1.

Altoona missed its third attempt and Julia Schroeck (Fairview, PA/Fairview) put the pressure on the Lions by making her shot. Nikki Supsic needed to make her shot for Altoona and did, but Valerie Wagner (Pittsburgh, PA/Montour) scored the game-winning penalty kick to punch Behrend's ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

Robin Siegenthaler (Penns Valley, PA/Penns Valley) made two saves during regulation and did not need to make any stops in overtime.