READING — The Penn State Berks women's soccer team (9-7-2) hosted the United East Quarterfinals as the fourth seed, taking on fifth seeded Lancaster Bible College (7-7-3) on Saturday, October 31. The Nittany Lions kept up the pace, but a late goal had Berks fall1-0 to the Chargers.
The Nittany Lions created the first-half chances and held the Chargers without a goal, putting three shots on frame while not conceding a shot in the first half.
Devon Deery tested Saige Santa Cruz in the sixth minute, and after the Chargers earned back-to-back corners in the 14th minute, Berks continued to generate pressure through saved attempts by
Stephanie Morales at 18:59 and
Maci Laster at 19:28. The Blue & White added a corner in the 26th minute and another look from
Danica Aaronson at 33:00 during a stretch in which it kept play in the attacking end without breaking through. The half also included several foul-heavy stretches, including a sequence from 35:13 to 37:48 with five combined fouls, before Morales sent a late shot high and left in the 43rd minute. The first half ended with neither side scoring.
Berks pushed for chances in the second half with three corner kicks and shots from
Ava Ortiz and Morales, but the Chargers broke through at 68:36 when Rayanna Wagaman scored off an Isabella Eufemia assist to make it 1-0. Earlier, the Nittany Lions earned a corner in the opening minute of the half and Ortiz followed with a shot in the 50th minute before the match moved into a physical stretch with several fouls. The Blue & White absorbed Chargers pressure from the 56th through 66th minutes, including three shots and a corner, without conceding during that sequence. Morales put a shot on frame at 68:14 that Saige Santa Cruz saved, and
Riley Fisher answered the Chargers goal with a save on Wagaman in the 71st minute, but Berks could not find an equalizer before the match finished 1-0.
Morales led the Nittany Lions with three shots, including two on goal. Fisher played all 90 minutes in goal and made one save. Laster recorded one shot on goal.
Devon Deery added one shot on goal.
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