Rider Wins the 2014 MAAC Women's Soccer Championship in a Shootout
MAAC Sports
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The No. 4 seed Rider University defeated the No. 2 seed Fairfield University 5-4 on penalty kicks to claim the 2014 MAAC Women’s Soccer Championship at Hesse Field on the campus of Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey today.
With the victory, Rider University earns the MAAC's automatic bid to the 2014 NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship. The Broncs will learn where they will be headed in the NCAA tournament when the field is announced on the NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Selection Show, which will air on NCAA.com on Monday, November 10 at 4:30 p.m.
In the first half of a physical final, Fairfield had the possession in its favor for most of the first 45 minutes. Fairfield’s Ashley Small had two opportunities early in the half but was denied when she fell in the box only getting one shot off. Small’s best opportunity came at the 29th minute when she fired a shot to the near post that was saved by Rider goalkeeper Bethany-May Howard. Rider’s best opportunity of the half came with under two minutes remaining when MAAC Offensive Player of the Year Tara Ballay got free in the penalty area and missed a shot high. For the half, the Stags outshot the Broncs 5-3, with a 2-1 edge in shots on goal. Rider’s Howard made two saves in goal while Fairfield’s Kathleen Early made one save. The first half ended with a 0-0 tie.
Fairfield continued to be aggressive in the second half, when Small got a shot off on the far post that was saved by a diving Howard in the 51st minute. The Stags had another opportunity when Karolyn Collins had a chance to score in the 59th minute on a shot that missed wide to the near side. Rider got on the board first in the 63rd minute when Ellie Smith crossed the ball into the box and Hollie Kelsh found the back of the net off of the right foot with a one time. Fairfield scored the equalizer at the 83rd minute mark when Collins scored on a free kick from 40 yards out making the score even at 1-1. At the end of regulation, Fairfield held an 11-6 shot advantage and 6-2 shots on goal edge. Five yellow cards were given out in the second half of the physical match.
After two scoreless overtime periods, the match came down to a shootout to determine the 2014 champion. Both Fairfield and Rider made its first three penalty kicks, before Fairfield missed its fourth due to a diving stop by Rider keeper Howard. Rider would find the net on its fourth penalty kick and so would Fairfield on its fifth attempt. The final penalty kick of the night came from Rider’s Heather Maierle with a chance to win the title for the Broncs. Maierle hit the top near corner to secure Rider University’s first MAAC title in program history.
Rider improved to 12-5-3, and added Becca Kape, Maierle, and Priscilla Santos to the All-Tournament team in addition to MVP Howard.
Fairfield, who advanced to the final of the MAAC Women’s Soccer Championship in consecutive seasons and for the 11th time overall, year came to an end with a 14-4-3 record. The team placed Anna Borea, Karolyn Collins, and Michelle Kowalski on the All-Tournament team.
2014 MAAC WOMEN’S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
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MVP – Bethany-May Howard
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Rider
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Becca Kape
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Rider
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Heather Maierle
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Rider
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Priscilla Santos
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Rider
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Anna Borea
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Fairfield
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Karolyn Collins
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Fairfield
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Michelle Kowalski
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Fairfield
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Kim Clemmer
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Monmouth
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Rachelle Ross
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Monmouth
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Daniel Kennedy
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Niagara
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Catherine Meyer
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Niagara
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