Women's Soccer 11/11/2020 1:13:00 PM

Taking a look at the historic NCAA win over No. 17 ranked Carnegie Mellon

This is the second of a four-part series that will run on the website over the next few weeks that will look back on the historic run of the 2016 women's soccer team. In today's story, we will hear from seven student-athletes that played a vital role in the teams success, as well as from Adrian Munteanu (head coach), Tom Gosselin (assistant coach), and Lisa Deibler (Director of Athletics).

Sarcinello, Nittany Lions take down Carnegie Mellon in NCAA first round (November 12, 2016) | Boxscore

Berks was coming off of its most thrilling win in the NEAC Championship with a 1-0 double overtime win over Lancaster Bible on Sunday, November 6. The next day during the NCAA Selection Show, the Nittany Lions found out they would face No. 17 ranked Carnegie Mellon University. This contest would take place at Wittenberg University, which happened to be nearly 500 miles and roughly 7.5 hours away.

The Nittany Lions had previously faced CMU in 2014, when the Tartans topped Berks 3-0 on their home field in the first round of the national tournament. Five members (Brennan Moyer, Lizzie Mummau, Dana Sarcinello, Morgan Shade, Shelby Baker) from that squad were seeking revenge. But this time around, that group became more experienced in competing on the national stage and had four determined seniors that were not ready for their soccer careers to come to an end.

CMU had a shot go off of the post at the 6:43 mark of the opening period, but Berks shook that off and was able to get onto the attacking end of the field. Sarcinello chipped a ball into the box that goalkeeper failed to clear out of harms way. Kaylie Smucker, who was in the right place at the right time, and was able to send the loose ball into the net to put Berks up 1-0 with just 9:30 off the game clock.

Goalkeeper Paige Elmy and the Nittany Lions held strong for the remainder of the period to take a 1-0 lead into the intermission. In that stretch, the Tartans had six shots and a corner kick, but Elmy made three saves on shots that were on target. Also in that time, the Berks offense generated just one shot.

The second half started with pressure by CMU before Berks flipped the script. Caitlin Golden had a shot go wide and Alexa Lopez had a corner kick, but never found the back of the net. In the 58th minute, Sarcinello uncorked an amazing shot that the goalkeeper could only hope for some help from the cross bar to deny it. Fortunately for Berks, Sarcinello's placement was perfect as it went into the upper right corner to give Berks a two goal cushion. People watching from the stands or on the live video feed were starting to realize that first goal was not a fluke and that the Nittany Lions were for real.

Following the goal, CMU made several substitutions as they brought in fresh legs to ramp up their offensive attack. That move paid off for the Tartans, who cut the score to 2-1 with a goal in the 67th minute.

CMU had several shots and corner kick chances over the next 20 minutes of game play, but could not net the equalizer. Sarcinello then imposed her will on the Tartans defense with a shot over the keeper's head and into the far back corner to put the score at 3-1 with 1:29 to play.

As the final ticks of that 89 second ran off, the hard work that this team and the many amazing ones before it, had paid off in the form of an upset over the 17th ranked team in the country in the opening round of the NCAAs. The recruiting, teaching, scouting, and day-to-day work that head coach (part-time coach at that) Adrian Munteanu put into this program year-after-year, had finally saw the fruits of his labor. The Nittany Lions players, coaches, and fans celebrated the victory, but there was still a feeling that this was not the ceiling. A feeling that there was still more to achieve, more winning to be had.

Elmy finished the contest with four saves in goal to earn the victory. The back line of Moyer, Baker, Megan Jardine, and Karina Raykova played 90 minutes of relentless defense to make this win a possibility.

Check out the Q&A below to hear this monumental moment from the perspective of those that made it happen.

Today's Q&A members: Brennan Moyer, Lizzie Mummau, Dana Sarcinello, Shelby Baker, Caitlin Golden, Alexa Lopez, Adrian Munteanu, Tom Gosselin, Lisa Deibler

What was your reaction when we were selected to face Carnegie Mellon? And having to do so in Wittenberg, Ohio?
Shelby Baker: I was nervous because we had played them in 2014 and lost but also felt hopeful since we weren't playing a team ranked in the top five in the nation.

Brennan Moyer: I was excited to have a second opportunity to play them in the first round, like we had done my first year with the team, but this time being on neutral ground.

Alexa Lopez: I think I almost keeled over to be quite honest. Not necessarily because of who our opponent was or the fact we were going out to Ohio, it was the combination of the two and we were pretty much blindsided! The selection show has to be one of the most nerve-wracking events as a college athlete because you never know what fun surprise you'll get and well...it was definitely both of those things!

Tom Gosselin: LETS GO!

Dana Sarcinello: I was very concerned about the 8+ hour bus ride... But overall I was excited for a rematch from the 2014 NCAA tournament. I also felt like it did not really matter who we played because I really was so confident in our team's abilities going into the tournament.

Lizzie Mummau: I think I was relieved at the time that we didn't pull a higher seed. I was excited to have a game that I thought we actually had the chance at winning if we played like I knew we could. As far as having to travel to Wittenberg- I think I just remember sort of the frustration that we were put at the very edge of the radius that we could have traveled to. We would obviously were going to make the best out of the trip, but it kind of highlighted that we were the expected underdogs.

Caitlin Golden: Terrified. I knew how good of a team Carnegie Mellon was so it was definitely intimidating. It was nice knowing we weren't going to face them on their home field, but still I was very nervous going into that game.

Lisa Deibler: "Not them again." and "I'm going to need to pack a big snack bag (including cookies) for this trip."

Adrian Munteanu: We played them before a few years back in the NCAA Tournament, so we knew they were a very strong side. I think playing them at a neutral site was an advantage.

Did you go into the game mentally thinking that you could really win this game?
Baker:Yes, the entire week prior Adrian had given us the confidence that we could win the game if we played our best soccer.

Moyer: Yes. Being the underdog gave us no reason to doubt ourselves, in soccer any team can win on any given day.

Lopez: I went into that game with a different type of attitude (definitely something more fierce than usual) and I'm not sure where it came from if we're being honest. I was just happy to be there, but I knew how much was on the line. For some reason, it didn't feel like the year before. I feel like we went into that tournament with a bit of a chip on our shoulders. It just felt like the perfect year to make something really happen.

Goose: I had no doubt when I watched scout film. Adrian thought I was crazy, lol.

Sarcinello: I remember watching some of CMU's game film in the week leading up to the game and thinking "we can definitely beat this team." We knew it would be a tough game, but for whatever reason this year felt different. In years past, we definitely were more fearful going up against nationally ranked teams. But after watching some film and working hard at practice we felt ready.

Mummau: So I remembered how our game went against Carnegie Mellon our sophomore year (which was not well). But going into this game I had more excitement and hope about how we could play. It was a challenge that we were definitely all up for.

Golden: I knew that we could compete with any team with the talent we had. But at the same time we had just barely beaten Lancaster Bible who was not even close to as good as Carnegie Mellon. I always felt like we had a chance, but I definitely didn't go into that game exceptionally confident.

What went through your head when Kaylie Smucker scored the first goal less than 10 minutes into the game?
Baker: I was shocked I couldn't believe that we were able to score and from that point on I was determined to win.

Moyer: PURE EXCITEMENT! Kaylie's goal gave us an instant boost of energy while also letting Carnegie Mellon see what they were up against.

Lopez: I couldn't believe what I was seeing, not because it was something we weren't capable of, but because Carnegie Mellon is an absolute powerhouse and I saw our hard-work pay-off right in front of my eyes. Our team was something I was so proud to be a part of and seeing us score on Carnegie Mellon...I knew after that first goal that our trip couldn't end there.

Goose: That young lady battled all year. Such a great kid. The bravery and commitment to get through that ball was absolutely stunning.

Sarcinello: I was so happy because getting the early goal was crucial, but there was still so much time left so I knew anything could still happen.

Mummau: Kaylie was in the absolute right place at the right time and did exactly what we needed her to do!! One of my favorite memories to play back on tape is the clip of Adrian and Goose jumping around in each others arms after that first goal. It gave us the boost we needed to really believe that the game could go our way.

Golden: I remember being face down on the turf when the goal happened, so I didn't even see it. But when I got up and realized what happened, I was like "oh my god, we might actually win this game."

Deibler: My reaction was delayed because Alan (our awesome bus driver) and I were at the bus getting a pinnie for Paige...because our officials couldn't tell the difference between purple and navy.

Dana scored to put us up 2-0, then they scored to pull within 1 with 32+ minutes to go. What were you feeling at this point, was your confidence still high?
Baker: I was nervous because we weren't clearly dominating and I wanted to win more than anything since this was the closest we had ever been to winning an NCAA game.

Moyer: Dana's goal sealed the deal for me, goggles and all. Regardless of Carnegie Mellon scoring, the whole team was on the same page and we were not going to lose that game.

Lopez: When Dana scored, I lost my freakin' marbles because we didn't just score 1, but 2 awesome goals on a team that wasn't getting many goals scored on them all season. When they scored though, it definitely humbled me and I knew the game was far from over.

Goose: I believe my hug of Adrian said it all.

Sarcinello: I remember feeling like we had decent control of the game overall, so I wasn't super worried. We just tried to stay focused and forget about the score.

Mummau: Dana hit an absolute dream of a shot from right outside of the 18, exactly what I would expect from her. At that point we could really sense the panic that Carnegie Melon was feeling on the field being down 2-0. After they got one back I knew we had to stick in but I was still feeling like we could hold onto it.

Golden: Once we went up 2-0, I was incredibly confident that we would win. Even after they scored I still felt the same way. Our defense was incredibly strong and I knew Carnegie Mellon wouldn't get another goal on us.

Munteanu: The girls were ready to play 90 minutes and overtime if needed. Anything can happen in soccer during the course of the game and even after they scored, our team was composed and collected and we created a few other chances to score.

CMU had a couple of corners and shots in a brief stretch, but the defense held them off. Then Dana's second goal made it 3-1 with 1:30 to play. What were you thinking as she scored that goal?
Baker: When Dana scored I knew the game was over and that we were going to play again the next day. It was such a relief.

Lopez: When Dana scored the second goal, in my head, it solidified our trip to the round of 32. There was no way that we did what we did to let it all go with 1:30 left. Another totally true thought, but this one I was slightly ashamed of: how am I going to get my legs to function during tomorrow's game?

Goose: Dana was amazing all year. And even with an eye injury she put a huge stamp on that game

Sarcinello: For me it was extra special because this was my first game back from injury, so it just felt amazing to be able to seal the victory for us. It was also a perfect way for me to score because I remember having an unusually good pre-game warm up with Goose with shots from that exact distance.

Mummau: Dana's second goal, an almost exact replica of the first, really put the final nail in the coffin for that game. When she scored I knew for sure that we were moving past the first round of NCAA's for the first time in program history. I don't think I can even explain how excited I was to be able to stick around for another day to play.

Golden: My immediate thought was "thank god for Dana." And then I was thinking how huge of a win this was for us. Even if we didn't go any farther, we had already made history by winning that game. But at the same time, we had so much momentum going for us and I had so much confidence going into the next day.

Deibler: A goggle-wearing "kraken" had been released, and Carnegie Mellon was paying the price. Dana came back from her injury with a vengeance, and the result was fantastic.

Munteanu: Just before that goal we had another great chance and their keeper made an incredible finger tip save. It's funny, I remember that the corner was not initially awarded and as they were ready to take the goal kick, the assistant referee called out and helped with that decision. At that point, I was thinking that we are moving on to the next round.

What do you remember feeling and thinking when the clock finally hit 00:00 and you got the program's first ever win at NCAAs and over the No. 17 ranked team i n the country?
Baker: I had to win the next day. I wasn't going to be okay with anything less and I think the team was hooked to the feeling of winning an NCAA game and had the momentum to come out of the weekend victorious.

Moyer: I was so proud of every single person on our team. It being my senior year, I was excited to get to play another day and have the opportunity to keep winning.

Lopez: I think I might've started tearing up. I couldn't contain my excitement and obviously a lot of it had to do with the fact we had the program's first ever NCAA win, but because I realized my sophomore season wasn't ending just yet.

Goose: I was so happy for Adrian and the kids. A true statement game on the national stage was what this program deserved.

Sarcinello: It was the best feeling. All I remember was hugging all my teammates and just being so happy.

Mummau: It was amazing. Being able to get past the first round for our senior season made me so happy. What's a better word for happy? Everything that we had been working for for the past four years just turned into the biggest accomplishment!

Golden: I remember feeling so happy and excited to see how far we could go. Beating a team that highly ranked was huge for us and at that point I felt like we could beat anyone.

Deibler: I felt pride...I was so, so proud of the girls (and Adrian and Goose).

Munteanu: We were thinking about recovery and preparation for the next game. It was very important that every played walked off the field healthy.

COMING UP ON FRIDAY
We will take a look at the second round of the NCAA Tournament when the Nittany Lions took on Nazareth College.

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Players Mentioned

#24 Shelby Baker: Def; 5' 5"; Sophomore

#1 Paige Elmy: GK; 5' 5"; Sophomore

#32 Caitlin Golden: For; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#21 Alexa Lopez: Mid; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#11 Brennan Moyer: Def; 5' 5"; Senior

#6 Lizzie Mummau: For; 5' 4"; Senior

#7 Dana Sarcinello: Mid; 5' 7"; Senior

#10 Morgan Shade: Def; 5' 4"; Senior

#4 Kaylie Smucker: Mid; 5' 4"; Sophomore

#5 Megan Jardine: Def/Mid; 5' 8"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#24 Shelby Baker
: 5' 5"; Sophomore
: Def

#1 Paige Elmy
: 5' 5"; Sophomore
: GK

#32 Caitlin Golden
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: For

#21 Alexa Lopez
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: Mid

#11 Brennan Moyer
: 5' 5"; Senior
: Def

#6 Lizzie Mummau
: 5' 4"; Senior
: For

#7 Dana Sarcinello
: 5' 7"; Senior
: Mid

#10 Morgan Shade
: 5' 4"; Senior
: Def

#4 Kaylie Smucker
: 5' 4"; Sophomore
: Mid

#5 Megan Jardine
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: Def/Mid