BOSTON, Mass. – Junior Mykaela Scarpace's (Marlborough, Conn.) goal with 38 seconds remaining in the second overtime propelled the Wentworth Institute of Technology women's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Smith in a quarterfinal round contest of the 2015 ECAC Division III New England Women's Soccer Tournament.
With the win the to-seeded Leopards improve to 17-2-2 and will host a semifinal game on Saturday at a time to be announced. The Pioneers see their season come to an end with a 7-8-5 record.
The Leopards had a chance to take a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute when junior Amanda Weinberger (Colchester, Vt.) headed a hall in front which was saved by sophomore Shelby Hall (West Springfield, Mass.) and Weinberger almost gave the hosts the edge in the 29th minutes when her one-timer from in front was saved by Hall.
Wentworth appeared to score a goal in the 36th minute, however it was negated by an offside call and the game would remain scoreless at the half.
Smith drew first blood early in the second frame when junior Emily Smith (Winchester, Mass.) sent a pass into the box where sophomore Jordan Isaacs (Weston, Conn.) fired a shot to the upper middle.
The Pioneers nearly went ahead 2-0 in the 60th minute, however Smith's shot on an open net hit the left post.
A little over a minute after that chance, the Leopards got the equalizer on a goal from freshman Madyson Reno (Simi Valley, Calif.). Junior Rachel Perras (Portsmouth, R.I.) set up the goal when she took a shot from the left side that was saved by Hall before the rebound came out to Reno for her team-leading eighth marker of the season.
Wentworth had a chance in the 90th minute, however junior Mary Annon's (Concord, N.H.) one-time attempt went just wide.
The Leopards had a 4-2 shot advantage in the first overtime, including putting two on net, however Hall stopped both shots, as did Leopard freshman Micaela Robinson (Goshen, N.Y.).
In the second overtime The Leopards had a pair of corner kicks in the early going but could not convert. Junior Mary Pastorelli (Whitesboro, N.Y.) fired a free kick in the 106th minute that was saved by Hall and Robinson denied a shot by junior Innis Hitt (Arlington, Va.) less than a minute later.
Scarpace scored her seventh of the season after Pastorelli served a free kick that was a loose ball just inside the box. Reno was able to gain possession and feed Scarpace along the left side for the golden goal.
Robinson made 10 saves while Hall made 11 stops. Wentworth held a 25-13 shot advantage and a 5-2 edge on corner kicks.
