WSOC at NCAA 2018
Tyler Schueck
0
Penn State Berks PSBW (15-4-2)
1
Winner Emory EUW (14-4-1)
Penn State Berks PSBW
(15-4-2)
0
Final
1
Emory EUW
(14-4-1)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
Penn State Berks PSBW 0 0 0 0
Emory EUW 0 0 1 1

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

Women's soccer suffers overtime setback to Emory

LYNCHBURG, VA - The Penn State Berks women's soccer team gave everything it had against the No. 22 ranked Emory University on Saturday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The two teams combined for 43 shots, 19 saves, and zero goals scored through 90 minutes of regulation. The Eagles broke through with their second shot of overtime with a low liner inside in the left post 2:07 into the period to earn the 1-0 victory.

The Nittany Lions finish the 2018 campaign 15-4-2 overall, while Emory improves to 14-4-1 and will take on tournament host University of Lynchburg on Sunday afternoon.

Emily Clapper had a couple of nice attacks in the opening half, but had one shot slam off the crossbar and another stopped by the diving keeper. The Eagles had a few chances in the first period, but Bristol Pizzuto was up for the challenge each time.

In the second half following a foul, Megan Jardine had free kick blocked by the defending wall but collected the loose ball and put a shot toward the bottom left corner that was saved by the keeper. The Eagles came down the field and had a pair of shots stopped by Pizzuto in the over the next five minutes of play. Jardine, Clapper, and Caitlin Golden all had looks on the net over the next few possessions, but again the Danielle Staffin was there for the save.

In the 77th minute, Emory had a shot saved by Pizzuto, then another blocked inside the box by a defender, a shot off the crossbar, and another save by Pizzuto in the span of 30 seconds to keep the game deadlocked at 0-0. Golden and Clapper each put shots on goal over the final five minutes of regulation but could not slip past the keeper.

In overtime, the Eagles had a shot go wide of goal in the first minute and then netted the game winner at 92:07 off the foot of Abbe McCarter.

Pizzuto finished the contest with eight saves, while her counterpart Staffin made 11 stops. The Eagles outshot Berks by a 24-21 margin, but the Nittany Lions put 11 on goal and Emory had nine. Both teams finished the game with three corners.

As has been the case all season, Golden supplied offense from start to finish. The midfield play of Alexa Lopez, Julia Green, Alexis Schoener, Charlotte Pizzuto, Clapper, JoJo Zolli, and Monica Pinel gave everything they had on offense and defense. The defensive unit of Shelby Baker, Jardine, Karina Raykova, and Jess Mandeville turned in stellar play against a strong offensive attack.

Berks can hold its head up high and be proud of this season. Each of the four losses the team suffered this season were against nationally ranked opponents and all four have reached the NCAA Tournament. The Nittany Lions offense is top in the country, led by Golden and her 38 goals. The defense limited the opposition to just 0.43 goals per game and is ranked in top-20 in the nation.

The Nittany Lions will bid farewell to a special group of seniors that were a part of one of the winningest stretch in program history. That group is Baker, MACKENZIE FREDRICKS, Golden, Green, Lopez, and Pinel.

Golden goes down in history as the all-time leader in goals and points. She ranks among the top-10 all-time in the NCAA in both of those categories as well. Baker, Golden, Lopez, Green, and Pinel rank as top-10 all-time in program history for games played throughout their illustrious careers.

With the bulk of the team set to return and the incoming class of recruits by head coach Adrian Munteanu, the Nittany Lions will look to compete on the national level again next season. 
 
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