Fairfield Advances to Title Match on Penalty Kicks in Women's Soccer Semifinal Round
MAAC Sports
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – No. 2 seed Fairfield University defeated No. 3 seed Niagara University on penalty kicks 3-2 in the semifinal round of the 2014 MAAC Women’s Soccer Championship at Hesse Field on the campus of Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey.
In the first half, Catherine Meyer scored the first goal of the match at the 12 minute mark off of a rebound in the box from a corner kick from teammate Naomi Giovino that was deflected by a Fairfield defender. The goal for Meyer was her third of the season. Fairfield managed to control the majority of the first half keeping the ball on its side of the field and outshooting Niagara 5-2. The Stags also attempted four corners kicks to the Purple Eagles one in the half. Each team had one shot on goal during the first 45 minutes, the difference being Niagara’s was a goal.
The second half began much like the first with the Stags controlling the pace. Fairfield attempted the first five shots before the sixth shot found the back of the net after Cassidy Boegel scored her ninth goal of the season and equalizer at the 54th minute mark off of a rebound from a saved goal attempt from her prior shot tying the match at 1-1. Niagara would not let up, registering four shots on goal in the half. The match would remain tied at 1-1 at the end of regulation with Fairfield leading the shots battle with a 19-6 edge.
In the first overtime Carolyn Collins of Fairfield missed an opportunity to end the match at the 100 minute mark when Niagara goalie Claire Feietag came out the goal and forced Collins shot to hit the ride side of the post. During the first overtime period, both teams recorded two shots.
In the second overtime, both teams went back and forth with the Purple Eagles getting one shot to the Stags zero in the period. With the score remaining tied at 1-1 after the two additional periods, the match was forced into a shootout to determine the winner.
Niagara scored on each of its first two shots, while Fairfield missed its first two penalty kicks giving the Purple Eagles a 2-0 lead. Fairfield would then answer by making its next two, while Niagara would miss its next two knotting it up at 2-2. Coming down to the fifth and final attempts, Fairfield’s captain Michelle Kowalski found the back of the net to give the Stags the 3-2 advantage and Niagara’s Giovino could not convert on her penalty kick giving the Stags the edge and sending them into the title match.
Winning goalkeeper Kathleen Early made five saves, while Feietag made eight stops. On the night, Fairfield outshot Niagara 21-10 with the Stags registering nine on goal and the Purple Eagles recording six on goal.
Fairfield (14-4-2) earns a spot in the championship final on Sunday, November 9 at 3:00 p.m. They will face the winner of the second semifinal match between top seeded Monmouth University and fourth seeded Rider University. The winner of the 2014 MAAC Women’s Soccer Championship will earn the MAAC's automatic bid to the 2014 NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship.
The NCAA Selection Show for Division I Women’s Soccer will air on NCAA.com on Monday, November 10 at 4:30 p.m.