The La Salle women’s soccer team won its second straight Atlantic 10 Championship defeating top-seeded Dayton on penalty kicks. It was a complete team effort for the Explorers. The team would need contributions from many players to defeat the league regular season champions, and they got them.
Junior Kelsey Haycook got the Explorer goal scoring in the 36th minute on a rebound to the far post. Freshman Deja Davis got the assist. The goal tied the game as Dayton scored in the first minute off a corner kick. The equalizing tally was the 40th career goal for Haycook as she ties Renee Washington and Amy Schneider on the list.
Neither team could score again in regulation or in two overtime periods. La Salle played tough defense for the remainder of the game. Explorer sophomore goal keeper Jessica Wiggins recorded six saves in the contest including one off a breakaway in overtime that kept the score even. La Salle had a great opportunity to score in regulation, but the ball off the foot of Davis hit the cross bar and did not cross the line.
After the two overtime sessions the title would be decided by penalty kicks. Coach Paul Royal called on his bench inserting sophomore Katie Getzinger as the goal keeper. Each team designated five shooters into the game to take the penalty kicks. Both Dayton and La Salle scored four goals after the five shooters took their attempt on goal. Now, it was sudden victory. Kerri Aiken shot sixth for the Explorers and found the back of the net. The Dayton sixth shooter Haley Keller put the ball toward the upper left side. Getzinger lunged toward the ball and made the save that gave La Salle the 2013 Atlantic 10 championship.
Maryam Huseini, Courtney Niemiec, Anna Dolhansky, and Renee Washington also scored on penalty kicks for La Salle.
The Explorers will represent the Atlantic 10 in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. It will be their third consecutive trip to the tournament and travel to Washington to meet the nationally ranked Georgetown Hoyas.
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Be the first to comment