Penalty Kick Sinks Women's Soccer, 1-0; Adelphi Advances to NE-10 Finals
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The fourth-seeded Merrimack women's soccer team nearly evened the match on a pair of late chances – including a potential game-tying header that sailed just over of the crossbar – but eighth-seeded Adelphi continued its magnificent postseason run with its second straight upset, as the Panthers used a penalty kick in the 47th minute to down the Warriors, 1-0, in Northeast-10 Championship Semifinal action on Wednesday afternoon at Martone-Mejail Field.
Failing to reach the NE-10 Finals for the second consecutive season, the Warriors will need an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament next week to continue their season, as the home team fell to 11-8-1 overall by virtue of the loss. Adelphi, meanwhile, improves to 11-5-3 while earning a trip to the program's first-ever NE-10 Championship Finals.
After the Warriors were whistled for a questionable foul just inside the box early in the second half, Donna Liotine converted the game's only marker on a penalty kick at 46:22, and that tally would hold through the remaining 43:48 of the game despite Merrimack nearly tying the contest on more than one occasion.
Adelphi commanded most of the first half – and at stretches the majority of the game – while owning a 7-2 advantage in shot attempts through the first frame. Merrimack slowly began to tilt the momentum in its favor as the second half progressed, but the tying goal they desperately were searching for never came, as Sam Whitney finished with five saves for the visitors and watched a few precarious opportunities sail just off target.
With about 25 minutes in the match, junior forward Jenna Zechner (North Andover, Mass.) received a service into the box from the left side and lined up a header that appeared destined for the back of the twine. But the volley just missed high, and Adelphi remained in front by a goal.
Merrimack once again nearly had a scoring opportunity lined up, as junior Sami Brady (Rockland, Mass.) received a long pass and had lined up a shot from about 12 yards out, but the attempt landed right in Whitney's gloves to keep the Warriors off the board.
Despite a few last-second chances, that would be the closest that Merrimack would get, as the Panthers followed up their stunning 2-0 victory against top-seeded AIC on Wednesday with another upset over the No. 4 seed on Friday.
In total, the Panthers held a 16-10 edge in shot attempts, while Whitney and Merrimack junior Nicole Curtis (Billerica, Mass.) each recorded five saves. Adelphi also led in corner kicks (8-2), and were whistled for 10 more fouls than Merrimack (16-6).
The Warriors will now await their postseason fate by means of the NCAA Selection Show on Monday evening to see whether or not they will earn a spot in the 48-team NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Tournament field. The program can be seen online at www.ncaa.com, and will follow the conclusion of the Men's Selection Show on Monday night.
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