DOBBS FERRY, N.Y.-The West Chester University women's soccer team (17-3-3) battled Mercy College (18-3-1) in the NCAA Elite Eight on Sunday afternoon and for the second Sunday in a row it took PKs to decide a winner. Mercy ultimately won in PKs by a margin of 4-3.
Mercy broke through in the sixth minute when Natalia Elizararras converted a Haley Noble cross to give Mercy the 1-0 lead. West Chester applied pressure throughout the remainder of the half but it was not enough to tie the game allowing Mercy to take a 1-0 lead into halftime.
In the second half both sides continued to apply pressure but the strong play of both keepers and the powerful wind kept both teams quiet for much of the half. Finally, in the 82
nd minute
Nikki Zaso (CherryHill, N.J./Cherry Hill East) got fouled in the box which led to a
Kaitlyn McNamara (West Nyack, N.Y./Albertus Magnus) penalty kick goal to tie the game at 1. Each side applied more pressure in the final moments including a few shots that drilled the crossbar but they were unable to break through sending the game to overtime.
In OT both sides had their chances but once again defense ruled supreme sending the game into PKs. In PKs both teams brought in new goalies as West Chester brought in
Brooke Myers (Middletown, Pa./Middletown Area) while Mercy brought in Ashley Price to try and slam the door. As the visitors West Chester shot first and
Nikki Caffey (Holland, Pa./Council Rock South) started things off and she scored to give West Chester the early 1-0 lead. Mercy answered right back and in the second round
Hannah Grandell (West Chester, Pa./Unionville) scored to give West Chester the 2-1 lead. Mercy was able to answer right back but McNamara came through once again giving West Chester a 3-2 cushion. Price made two great saves on shots from
Mandy McCarthy (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus) and
Shannon Cooley (Frederick, Md./Urbana) with that West Chester's great season came to a close as they fell to Mercy by a 4-3 margin.
McKenna Mullin (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) worked hard in net all day facing 14 shots and making four great saves to keep the Mercy offense in check throughout the day.
Mercy outshot West Chester by a 14-11 margin although shots on goal were even at five shots a piece. Corners were also even as each team took three corners on the match.
This was West Chester's first elite eight appearance since the 2014 season when they fell to the College of Saint Rose by a score of 2-0. West Chester ends their season with a 17-3-3 record on the year.
Â
