Women's Soccer Advances to HCAC Final After Beating Transy in PK's

CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Mount St. Joseph University women's soccer team lives on to play another day! The Lions advanced to the finals of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) championship tournament, on the strength of an instant classic semi-final win over Transylvania. All square at 1-1 at the end of regulation and two overtimes, the match advanced to penalty kicks where the Lions took down the Pioneers 3-1.

With the win the Lions set themselves up for a rematch with preseason HCAC favorite the Panthers of Hanover College. The Mount earned the right to host the HCAC Championship match after taking down the Panthers 1-0 in their regular season finale.

The first half of the match against Transy was a back and forth affair that saw each team create outstanding opportunities to score, though the game remained level 0-0 through the first 45 minutes. 

Early in the second half though the Lions turned up the pressure. In the 57th minute senior Catherine Hatfield finally got the scoring underway. Hatfield made a nifty move to get herself free just outside the 18 yard box, hammering a right footed shot into the upper portion of the goal. 

Entering the matches final minutes the Lions still held onto that narrow 1-0 margin, but Transy would not quit. In the 87th minute the Pioneers found their equalizer from captain Abby Baker. 

All square at 1-1 after the initial 90 minutes, the match headed into overtime. In overtime there is a maximum of two 10-minute periods, with the golden goal rule in effect. 

The first overtime was rather uneventful as neither team even registered a shot during that 10 minutes of play. The second OT saw Transy create a couple opportunities, of which they put two balls on frame. Goalkeeper Madison Hart turned both shots away, among her 10 saves on the evening. 

After the 20 minutes of OT and the match still deadlocked, the teams headed into a penalty kick shootout!

First up for Transy to begin the shootout was Baker, who tried to beat Hart to her right but was turned away on an outstanding save.

The Lions would turn to Alex Huon to take their first PK,  who pulled her shot wide left.

Transy's second shooter Allison O'Hara, who found the back of the net beating Hart to the right in the lower 90.

Coach Gallagher and the Lions would turn to HCAC Newcomer of the Year, McKenzie Schneeman to take their second PK. Schneeman stepped up confidently as she has done all season and buried the ball into the lower right 90 to keep pace withe Pioneers.

Trying to keep pace Transy turned to Emily Yates who drilled the cross-bar with her attempt. 

The Lions turned to their third consecutive freshman to begin PK's, Ella Pittman who stepped up and drilled the ball into the back of the net in the upper right 90.

The Lions leading 2-1 in PK's, Transy turned to Abby Dean to try to keep pace. Once again though Hart was up to the task, making a huge save!

One more time Gallagher turned to a freshman, Molly Sheridan laced a ball high which found the back of the net moving the Lions ahead in the HCAC Tournament.

Here is what Gallagher had to say following the victory, "First of all the crowd tonight was the difference maker and that energy carried us through the match! I'm quite proud of our team's performance and mental toughness. They way we defend and attack together has completely changed our season and put us in a position to qualify for NCAA postseason. I mentioned to the team that when we kick off Saturday evening only a handful of teams across the nation will even have something to play/train for. Enjoy the moment - play hard for one another!" 

With the win the Lions will play host to Hanover on Saturday night at 7 PM on Schueler Field!!! Come Early!!! Be Loud!!! AND DEFEND THE MOUNT!!!

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