Bresciani's OT Goal Propels Warriors to 1-0 Win Over Franklin Pierce in NE-10 Quarterfinals
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – After neither team could find the back of the net through regulation plus the first seven minutes of overtime, sophomore forward Katie Bresciani (Hopedale, Mass.) received a long pass and scored on a breakaway to lift the fourth-seeded Merrimack women's soccer team to a 1-0 home victory over fifth-seeded Franklin Pierce in the Northeast-10 Championship Quarterfinals on Wednesday evening at Martone-Mejail Field.
The Warriors (11-7-1) advance to the league semifinals on Friday night to face either top-seeded AIC or No. 8 Adelphi, while the Ravens will now hope to claim an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament with an 11-7-1 overall record.
Both sides saw numerous scoring opportunities through both halves, but both goalkeepers pitched shutouts through the first 90 minutes of the game. Junior Nicole Curtis (Billerica, Mass.) notched four of her six saves in the second half alone, while Katie Weldon finished with five saves for the visitors.
After both sides combined for 36 shot attempts through regulation but had nothing to show for it on the scoreboard, the game headed to overtime. Through the opening seven minutes of the first 10-minute golden goal period, it seemed as if a second overtime was inevitable.
But with 2:09 left in the frame, sophomore Sarah Coakley (Medway, Mass.) threaded a long pass up the right flank to Bresciani, who snuck behind the Franklin Pierce defense and embarked on a breakaway against Weldon. The shot ricocheted off the Ravens' netminder and eventually settled into the back of the twine, sending the Warriors off in walk-off style.
The goal was the first for Merrimack in five halves, as the last Warrior goal came in the first half against Bentley a week ago in the home regular-season finale. Merrimack was shutout against Assumption on Saturday and again through regulation today before Bresciani and Coakley teamed up to snap the scoreless draught.
Coakley led the home side with a team-best four shot attempts, while Bresciani finished with a side-high two shots on target. Talita Pereira led all players with nine shot attempts and three on goal for the Ravens.
In total, both teams combined for 42 shot attempts, with Franklin Pierce holding a slim 22-20 edge overall while both sides put six shots on target. The visitors held an 8-6 lead in corner kicks, while both sides totaled 21 fouls altogether.
Depending on the winner of the AIC-Adelphi quarterfinal, the Warriors will either be on the road at the top-seeded Yellow Jackets or at home against the eighth-seeded Panthers, should Adelphi pull off the upset. Merrimack dropped a 2-1 overtime heartbreaker at home against AIC midway through the season, while the Warriors played Adelphi to a scoreless draw two weekends ago.
For updates regarding the NE-10 Women's Soccer Championship, check back online at either www.merrimackathletics.com or www.northeast10.org.
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For continuing coverage of Merrimack athletics, check back online at www.merrimackathletics.com, and follow the Warriors on Twitter @MC_Athletics.
