PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - A goal with just 36 seconds remaining in the second overtime period allowed Philadelphia University to defeat the Caldwell College women's soccer team, 2-1 in the semifinals of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference semifinals Wednesday afternoon at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School. The loss ends the season for the fourth-seeded Cougars, who finish with a record of 8-11-1, while the top-seeded Rams (11-6-4) advance to the finals on Saturday.
With the score tied 1-1 and the game appearing to be headed to penalty kicks, a foul was called on Caldwell to the left of the penalty area, about 20 yards out. Kristin Franks took the ensuing free kick for Philadelphia and placed a shot towards the upper right corner of the goal. Sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Hoenig (Howell, NJ/Howell) was able to get a hand on the shot, but the ball glanced off the underside of the crossbar and bounced into the goal. The goal officially ended the game after 109 minutes and 24 seconds. This is the second year in a row that Philadelphia has eliminated the Cougars from the CACC Tournament, as the Rams beat Caldwell in last season's quarterfinals.
The two teams battled to a scoreless tie for the entire first half and 20 minutes into the second half. In the 71st minute, Brianna Reinford headed home a corner kick from Sara Redka to put the Rams on top 1-0. But the Cougars regrouped, and with less than five minutes to play, senior Samantha Rinks (Corinth, TX/Billy Ryan) got on the end of a corner kick from sophomore defender Morgan Frankenfield (Coplay, NJ/Whitehall Coplay) and headed the ball over Rams goalkeeper Sara Hall to tie the game at 1-1. Junior forward Nicole Laureigh (Lanoka Harbor, NJ/Lacey Twp.) broke free in the final seconds of regulation and fired a shot on goal, but Hall made the save to send the game into overtime.
Hoenig had an outstanding game in goal for the Cougars, making 14 saves, while Hall recorded one save for the Rams. The Cougars were forced to play most of regulation and both overtime periods without first team all-CACC senior forward Kristee Paknis (Whiting, NJ/Manchester), who suffered an injury midway through the first half and did not return to the game. The loss marks the final game for Paknis, Rinks and senior midfielder Kim Fenton (Galloway Twp., NJ/Absegami), who also was knocked out of the game with an injury early in the second half.
This was Caldwell's fourth appearance in the CACC Tournament semifinals in the 11-year history of the program. Head coach Nate Guagliardi was named the CACC Co-Coach of the Year after leading the Cougars to three more wins than the previous season and a fourth-place finish in the CACC standings.
CC - 0 1 0 0 - 1
PU - 0 1 0 1 - 2
Scoring Summary: 1. PU - Brianna Reinford 7 (Sara Redka), 70:16. 2. CC – Samantha Rinks 6 (Morgan Frankenfield), 85:06. 3. PU - Kristin Franks 1 (unassisted), 109:24.
Shots: CC - 3; PU - 32
Saves: CC – Lauren Hoenig 14; PU – Sara Hall 1
Corners: CC - 8; PU - 2
Fouls: CC - 12; PU - 8
Offsides: CC - 0; PU - 2
Cautions: CC - Diaz (77:12); PU - none
CACC Women's Soccer Tournament
First Round - Monday, Nov. 3
Game 1: No. 1 Philadelphia 3, No. 8 Dominican 2
Game 2: No. 4 Caldwell 1, No. 5 Nyack 0
Game 3: No. 2 Georgian Court 3, No. 7 Post 0
Game 4: No. 3 Holy Family 8, No. 6 Felician 0
Semifinals - Wednesday, Nov. 5 (at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School)
Game 5: No. 1 Philadelphia 2, No. 4 Caldwell 1 (2OT)
Game 6: No. 2 Georgian Court 1, No. 3 Holy Family 0
Finals - Saturday, Nov. 8 (at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School)
No. 1 Philadelphia vs. No. 2 Georgian Court, 5:30 p.m.
