FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University Women's Soccer team played one of the most exciting and thrilling college soccer games all year, tying the MAAC Quarterfinal contest with three seconds remaining in regulation and then advancing in penalty kicks by a 5-4 margin over Niagara. Goalkeeper
Gena Pike converted the game-winning penalty strike and also made a stop in the shootout. The Stags also held down the MAAC's top-ranked offensive, drawing the Purple Eagles 1-1 in regulation.
"The players executed the game plan really effectively," Head Coach
David Barrett said. "We started a couple of new people. Sydney (Corbett) did a nice job, Arden (MacNeil) did a really nice job. We put together a blueprint and we followed it. As a group we defended smart and tough."
The Stags highlighted their dramatic comeback as they pushed the ball up the length of the pitch in the final minute. The Stags earned a throw in with less than 15 seconds left in their attacking third.
Stephanie Tsangaris headed a ball into the box that deflected off the arm of a Niagara defender with three seconds left for a penalty kick.
Gabby Diodati presided over the free try and converted her seventh goal of the season, to tie the match up at 1-1.
All five Stags would make their penalty kicks in the shootout with
Hanley Courter, Diodati,
Reagan Klarmann, and
Maddie Kiely all hit the back of the net before the goalkeeper Pike converted the clincher and advance the Stags to the MAAC Semifinals. Pike also stopped the MAAC's leading scorer, Florence Vaillancourt on her attempt to give the Stags the chance to advance.
Each side took three shots in the overtime period with all six attempts coming in the second extra period.
Elle Scott had the best chance for the Stags after striking a left footed shot just out wide after a blocked shot.
Niagara appeared to have scored the golden goal in the 94th minute as they headed in a cross, but the goal was called off on an offsides violation. It was the third time the Purple Eagles had a goal waved off after an offsides in the contest.
With two new starters in the starting XI with
Arden MacNeil and
Sydney Corbett, the Stags brought energy and toughness to the defensive effort, limiting the Purple Eagles to just five shots in the first half. Niagara had entered the match with a MAAC-best 19 shots per game. Fairfield did not allow a shot on goal until the 61st minute when Pike made the first of her five saves diving to her right.
The only goal the Stags allowed came with 15 minutes left in regulation on a beautiful strike 25 yards out in the top right corner by Ida Miceli.
The Stags will now advance to the MAAC Semifinals for the second time in the last three seasons, as they await their opponent on Thursday, Nov. 4.
