CINCINNATI, Ohio – On Tuesday, October 31
st, your #2 Mount St. Joseph University Lions took on #3 Transylvania University for the HCAC Tournament Semifinal game. The Lions beat the Pioneers in a close 1-0 game in regular season play, but they sadly fell short in tournament play. The Pioneers were up 2-0 at the half, and the Lions were able to capitalize on a penalty kick opportunity in the second half to make it a 2-1 game at the end of the 2
nd half.
The Lions were playing quite the defensive game in the 1
st half of play, with the Pioneers getting off 9 shots. Your Lion's defense held strong for the majority of the first half, and they did not allow the Pioneers to have any corner kicks. However, with only 6 minutes left in the first half, the referee gave Transy a controversial free kick outside the 18 that resulted in a goal in the near-side corner of the goal for a 1-0 lead. With only 3 minutes left to play, the Pioneers got a lucky goal to close out the half with a 2-0 lead.
In the 2
nd half of the game, the MSJ Lions came out looking to make up for the 1
st half of play. The Lions outshot the Pioneers 10 to 2 and they also had 7 corner kicks compared to the Pioneer's 1 corner kick opportunity. In the 20
th minute of the 2
nd half,
Kerigan Pollard received the ball from
Haley Trittschuh and took it down the right flank on a break-away where she cut it back in the box and the defender swiped her feet out from under her resulting in a penalty kick opportunity.
Mckenzie Schneeman took the penalty kick and slotted it low and to the right corner making it a 2-1 game with 25 minutes left to play. The Lions kept up the offensive pressure with some great shots from
Kerigan Pollard,
Alexa Simpson, and
Haley Trittschuh, but the game ultimately ended in a 2-1 loss for the Lions in the HCAC Tournament Semifinal match.
The Lions were certainly looking to make it further in the HCAC Tournament, and they fought to the very last minute leaving their hearts on the field. The Lion's end with an 11-6-2 record on the season and 8-1 in regular conference play. Congratulations to the MSJ Women's Soccer team on a great season! Thank you for tuning into msjlions.com for coverage of your MSJ Women's Soccer Team and all MSJ Athletics!
