Gordon Slips Past Women's Soccer on Penalty Kicks

BOSTON, Mass. – Senior Lauren Hayes (Wantage, N.J.) put home a penalty kick in the top of the fifth round to secure the Gordon College women's soccer team's second trip to the Commonwealth Coast Conference title game in the last three seasons. The sixth-seeded Fighting Scots and second-seeded Wentworth played to a 0-0 tie after 110 minutes of action, however Gordon advances to the title game with a 4-2 win in the penalty kick round.

The Fighting Scots, now 6-8-4, will travel to top-seeded and defending champion Roger Williams on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. The Leopards see their 11-game win streak snapped and, at 16-2-2, are in contention for an ECAC Tournament berth which will be announced on Monday.

Gordon had a pair of chances early in the contest with sophomore Naomi Shearer (Hampden, Maine) and freshman Jill Kefalas (Wenham, Mass.) each putting shots on goal which were saved by Leopard freshman Micaela Robinson (Goshen, NY.). Wentworth would apply pressure and hold an 11-3 shot advantage at the break, including when sophomore Ali Leach (Stowe, Vt.) put a shot on net in the 42nd minute and when freshman Madyson Reno (Simi Valley, Calif.) just missed the mark in the 44th minute.

A pair of Gordon corner kicks early in the second half yielded no opportunities and Wentworth had a chance in the 48th minute when Reno intercepted a pass and went in alone. However, her shot just missed the mark to keep the game scoreless.

The Leopards, who had a 15-1 shot advantage in the second frame, nearly went ahead in the closing seconds of regulation. Junior Mary Annon (Concord, N.H.) served a corner kick from the right flag to classmate Amanda Weinberger (Colchester, Conn.). Weinberger headed the service, which was saved by Gordon senior McKenzie Dion (North Grafton, Mass.) and the rebound went wide just before time expired.

Wentworth took all four shots in the first overtime and nearly won it in the 99th minute when a junior Morgan Miller (Schenectady, N.Y.) shot went just over the crossbar. In the second overtime the Leopards had the only shot attempt, which was blocked and also had a late corner kick, however the contest would end officially as a scoreless tie.

Junior Kara Dry and Weinberger each made their kicks in the first round and senior Kaitlyn Hawn (Woodbury, Minn.) gave the visitors a 2-1 edge when she hit her kick in the second round and Annon went high with hers. Sophomore Kaelyn Silveira (Bristol, R.I.) gave the Fighting Scots a 3-1 lead when she connected on her kick and Miller's attempt hit the crossbar. Senior Jamie Breton (Concord, N.H.) hit the crossbar to open the fourth round before sophomore Emily Richard (Fremont, N.H.) pulled the Leopards to 3-2 when she made her attempt in the bottom of the fourth round. Hayes would clinch the tiebreaker with her shot in the top of the fifth round.

In the contest, Robinson made three saves – all in the first half – while Dion made 14 stops. Wentworth had a 31-4 shot advantage and a 5-3 edge on corner kicks.