RINDGE, N.H. – The Saint Anselm College women's soccer team played the University of Bridgeport to a 1-1 draw on Friday in the First Round of the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship, but fell to the Purple Knights by a 3-2 margin in penalty kicks.
For the second season in a row, Saint Anselm (10-7-2) has lost to an NCAA First Round opponent in penalty kicks following a tie through regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods. The Hawks were making their second NCAA postseason appearance in program history.
Bridgeport sees its record stand at 13-3-6 overall following the result – the Purple Knights will take on the winner of the Southern New Hampshire/Franklin Pierce tilt to be played later this evening on the campus of Franklin Pierce University.
A turnover at midfield by Saint Anselm led to the game's first goal just before halftime. Bridgeport's Kate Thill received the wayward pass and carried the ball toward net, firing a blast from 20 yards out with just under six minutes left in the first half that tucked inside the left post.
With 18:18 left to play in regulation, freshman Gabrielle Chisholm (Danvers, Mass.) had appeared to net the equalizing goal but the play whistled offside which negated the tally.
Not to be deterred, Saint Anselm sophomore Allison Silverstein (Concord, N.H.) scored just minutes later after receiving a pass down low from junior Olivia Gotobed (North Andover, Mass.) for the game-tying strike in the 73rd minute.
Saint Anselm had a wide-open net in the game's final 30 seconds, but the ball was sent high over the net.
With less than five minutes left in the first overtime period, Saint Anselm appeared poised to take a lead, but a Hawks shot attempt about 10 yards away from the net was sent wide, thanks to a nice goalkeeping play of Bridgeport's Clara Karlsson as she came out to cut down the angle.
In penalty kicks, the Hawks and Purple Knights scored on their first attempts but Saint Anselm missed the next two. With Bridgeport making three of its first four attempts, the fifth shooter for the Hawks missed the net wide right to send the Purple Knights on to the next round.
Freshman Emma Hudson (Kingston, Mass.) performed admirably in net for the Hawks, standing tall late in overtime and finishing with four saves on five shots. Karlsson also halted four shots on goal for Bridgeport, conceding just the Silverstein strike in the second half of game play.
Bridgeport fired three of the four shots in overtime, taking the narrow 11-10 advantage in shot attempts for the game. The Hawks were awarded six of the game's 10 corner kicks.
