No. 4 Thomas More Defeats Penn State Behrend in NCAA First Round

CRESTVIEW, KY – Erika LaRosa scored two goals and had an assist to lead No. 4 Thomas More past Penn State Behrend 3-1 in the first round of the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament in Crestview, Kentucky on Friday morning.

The Saints (21-0-1) tallied three unanswered goals in the first half to remain undefeated this season and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Lions (16-5) are one of four teams that managed to score a goal on Thomas More, getting on the scoreboard in the first minute, 23 seconds of the game.

It was a promising start for Behrend in the opening minutes. The Lions came out like they have all season and got on the scoreboard first off an Olivia Belack (Upper St. Clair, PA/Upper St. Clair) cross from the right side. A charging Alex Bilka (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley) got inside the box for a one-touch shot into the lower-left corner and a 1-0 lead.

The goal was the first surrendered by Thomas More since Sept. 14.

Five minutes later, the Saints were able to even the score thanks to LaRosa. She did all the work herself to find the back of the net at the 6:29 mark to make it 1-1. LaRosa put Thomas More ahead for good on a cross from Lauren Rose and headed it past Sam Morlacci (Apollo, PA/Shady Side Academy) in the 22^nd minute.

The Saints added a cushion goal in the 33^rd minute to complete the scoring in the first half. Shaye Issacs followed up a cross by LaRosa that looked to be stopped by Morlacci, but the ball was loose in the box and tapped in for the 3-1 margin.

Morlacci made five saves in between the pipes and Thomas More goalie Megan Barton had two stops on five shots by Behrend.

Belack and Bilka each tied for a season-best 20 goals and were one away from tying the single-season record of 21. 

The Lions finished the season with a 16-5 overall record.