Williamsburg, KY – Abigail Little converted the decisive penalty as the second-seed and fourth-ranked Cumberlands women's soccer team advanced to the MSC Championship match over third-seed and eighth-ranked Lindsey Wilson Wednesday afternoon at the UC Soccer Complex. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, however, the Patriots outscored the Blue Raiders 5-4 in penalty kicks to advance.
Cumberlands moved to 10-2-4 on the year and reaches the finals of the MSC Tournament for the fourth straight year and the eighth time in last nine seasons.
Letizia Traversone led the way for UC netted her ninth goal of the year, while
Morgan White made five saves in the contest.
It was a back-and-forth contest as Lindsey Wilson earned two corner kicks and a shot in the opening 17 minutes of play. The Patriots looked to strike first a
Laura Bosca de Pedro put a shot on frame, however, it was saved keeping the match scoreless.
Evelyn Saldivar and
Wakana Ose both put shots on frame but were turned away as the score remained 0-0. It stayed that way until the 37', when Saldivar was foul in the box setting up a penalty kick for the Patriots. Traversone stepped up and buried it into lower left corner of the goal, giving UC the 1-0 lead. Cumberlands added a shot and two corner kicks late, however, took a 1-0 advantage into the break.
The Blue Raiders opened the second half recording two shots in the first three minutes of play. In the 51'
Samantha Sokolove headed a corner kick towards the goal, however, it was saved as the score remained 1-0. White added a save in the 61', before Lindsey Wilson scored the equalizer in the 63'. White notched a pair of saves, while Traversone but a shot on frame, which was saved as the match remained tied in the 78'. UC notched four shots in the final ten minutes but couldn't convert sending the match to overtime.
In the first extra period, the Blue Raiders put two shots on frame, one of which was saved by White to keep the score even.
In the second overtime, Lindsey Wilson earned a corner kick and had a shot blocked in the first three minutes of play. In the closing seconds of overtime Saldivar put a shot on frame, however the
Blue Raider keeper kept it from crossing the goal line sending the match to penalty kicks.
Ines Martin Garcia, Traversone,
Wakana Ose, and
Nicole Araujo each converted their penalty kicks to match Lindsey Wilson as it was tied 4-4 heading into the fifth round. In the final round Patriots goalie
Kinga Hebda dove to her right and saved a Blue Raider penalty kick. Cumberlands counter with
Abigail Little, who put a well-placed shot into the left corner of the goal giving the Patriots the 5-4 edge in penalty kicks.
Cumberlands will now face the winner of #1 Campbellsville and #4 Cumberland, on Tuesday, November 10
th.
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