Shootout Win Sends Women's Soccer to Skyline Semfinal Round

Riverdale, N.Y. – It took them two overtimes and one set of penalty kicks but #5 St. Joseph's College (7-11-3) was able to squeeze past #4 Mt. St. Vincent (13-4-1) in the first round of the 2014 Skyline Conference Women's Soccer Championship Tournament.  The Golden Eagles tied the game late in the second half to leave the contest officially as a 2-2 tie and then topped the Dolphins, 3-1, in a penalty kick shootout to determine which team would advance to the semifinal round against #1 Farmingdale State (12-5-3) this Wednesday.

Mt. St. Vincent took a 1-0 lead to break open the scoreless contest late in the first half when Joyce Pagliuca took advantage of a Golden Eagle turnover in the box at 41:08.

After the halftime break, SJC freshman Claire Brady evened the match at 50:43 with her sixth goal of the year via a deflected pass from fellow frosh Kristin Carroll, drilling it to the right corner of the net.

The Dolphins answered back just eight minutes later as Caroline Criscuola took a Pagliuca pass in the top of the box, then tucked it right under the crossbar.

However, St. Joseph's did not relent and kept the offensive pressure on.  At 88:36, sophomore Brianna Mascia picked a great time for her first tally of the season as another opportune Carroll pass allowed her the chance to fire it into the net from about 30 yards out, just sneaking under the crossbar.

With the score tied after two tense overtime periods, a winner needed to be determined via a penalty kick shootout.  SJC's junior keeper Katie McGarrell, hadn't seen as much action to that point as CMSV's Kerilyn O'Keeffe, as the Golden Eagles outshot the Dolphins 21-6 in 110 minutes of action.  McGarrell had made one save while O'Keefe secured nine balls.

First up for St. Joseph's in the shootout was their top goal scorer, senior Jennifer Martino, and she connected.  In CMSV's first attempt, Megan DeRosa converted, evening the score at 1-1.  Next for SJC was junior Jessica Cordano with a successful tally, that would prove to be the eventual difference maker as the Dolphins missed their next three attempts at lengthening their playoff run.  Junior Joann Murino scored the third successful goal for SJC, following up a missed attempt by senior Kaleigh Gorman.  McGarrell made a diving save to her right on CMSV's fourth attempt which sealed the deal for the Eagles, leaving the final shootout outcome 3-1.

St. Joseph's now earns the chance to upset longtime rival and top seed Farmingdale State, which had received a first round bye into the tournament semifinals.  The game will be played on the campus of Farmingdale this Wednesday at a time still to be determined.