DALLAS, Pa. – The Ithaca College women's soccer team defeated the Penn State Behrend Lions, 1-0, in an overtime thriller in a First Round game of the NCAA Division III Championship on Saturday afternoon.
After 90 minutes of scoreless soccer, the Bombers netted a golden goal eight minutes into overtime off the boot of Rosie Bostian for the 1-0 victory. The goal was assisted by Julia Cascone; she set up Bostian who found the bottom left corner.
Saturday's win marked career win No. 400 for head coach Mindy Quigg who is the 12th women's soccer coach in NCAA Division III history to reach 400 wins. Coach Quigg is also the third female coach in Division III history to achieve 400 career wins.
In the 11th minute, Grace Hickey was challenged for the first time all day, making a diving stop to keep the game scoreless off an Audra Kuzma shot attempt. Later in the half, Kaelyn Fernandez made a great shot from point blank range that was denied by the Lions' goalie, Riley Morningstar.
In the 30th minute, Cascone took a shot from outside the 18-yard box that missed wide left, and Morningstar dove to stop it. The rest of the half played out with neither team getting any great chances in this defensive minded first half.
Early in the second half, Sarah Sinnott was given a great opportunity receiving a pass that came off a free kick, but she missed wide right. A few minutes later, Ally Stanton crossed a pass in front of the goal, but nobody was able to capitalize.
In the 64th minute, Zara Nourie took a shot from far out but Morningstar easily made the save. About 10 minutes later, Grace Hickey was challenged and made a solid save off a free kick. The whistle blew to end regulation at 90 minutes with the match still deadlocked, 0-0.
The Bombers generated a chance with Cascone taking a shot that was saved by Riley Morningstar just 1:30 into overtime. Nearly six minutes later, she set up Bostian for the game-winning goal. Bostian's goal at the 97:24 mark was her fifth goal of the season.
Ithaca will face off against host Misericordia University in Dallas, Pa. on Sunday, November 17 at 1 p.m. in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. Misericordia defeated Grove City in the NCAA First Round, 3-1.