The New York University women's soccer team was defeated by Springfield College in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Championship Final on Sunday, November 20, in Springfield, MA.
The score was tied 1-1 after regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods.
However, the Violets missed all four of their penalty kicks. Pride goalkeeper and tournament Most Valuable Player Ciara Boucher saved penalties from seniors
Lexi Clarke and
Mimi Tran, while two other shots missed the target as Springfield claimed the title.
NYU took the lead in the 50th minute through freshman
Ashlyn Krygowski's smart finish. She converted from a free kick swung in by freshman
Alex Benedict from the right side of the field. The Dunstable, MA, native went past two players in the penalty area before she tucked the ball home past the Springfield goalkeeper.
Springfield (14-6-3) scored the equalizer in the 88th minute to push the final to overtime. The goal came from a free kick on the left side of the field that was headed in by Brianna Messier.
NYU senior captain
Cassie Steinberg made a crucial save in the final five seconds of the first overtime to keep the Violets in the game. The Pride delivered a corner kick into the penalty box that Gabrielle Fernandes shot on goal. Steinberg saved the shot and blocked the follow-up from close-range by Mary Silva, taking the game into the second overtime.
Both teams attacked in the final five minutes of overtime, but neither could convert on their chances as the game went to a penalty shootout.
"We're very proud of the way we played today," said NYU Head Coach
Michele Canning. "This is definitely our best performance of the season. We've done really well this season, which makes me really proud of the team."
Statistics:
- Steinberg made five saves on the day, including one in the penalty shootout.
- Benedict and Krygowski finished with a team-best two shot attempts each.
- Clarke and Benedict were named to the All-Tournament Team.
The Violets concluded their 2016 season with a record of 13-3-6.