KENNESAW, Ga. – The Mercer women’s soccer team continued making school history as its 5-3 win in penalty kicks over Belmont in the Atlantic Sun Tournament semi-finals placed them into the championship match for the first time in school history. After playing 200 minutes, sophomore goalkeeper
Jean Worts made a huge save on the fourth penalty kick to send the Bears into the championship match.
After a scoreless first period, a corner kick by
Meghan Castaldo with just over 30 minutes to play in the second period hit of a Bruins’ defender and found freshman
Raschelle Riley, who sent the ball over the head of Bruins’ goalkeeper Micaela Crowley to give the Bears the 1-0 lead.
Belmont responded less then two minutes later as Elizabeth Bublis found Anna Holt outside the box. Holt found a space past the hands of Bears’ goalkeeper Jean Worts to even the score at one goal a piece.
At the end of regulation the Bears had out shot the Bruins 17-10.
Worts made a great save on a shot by Bruin forward Jessica Rix with less then one minute remaining in the first overtime to send the match into its second overtime period.
The Bears had an opportunity for a score early into the second overtime. Again a corner by Castaldo found sophomore
Jenny Niemeier in front of the net for a header, but Crowley came up with a save.
Finding themselves in a familiar situation, the Bears rose to the occasion and took the 5-3 victory in penalty kicks. Sophomore
Erin Theobald, Senior
Courtney Maxey, Niemeir and
Kacie Hudson each scored with Belmont countering the first three attacks before Worts made the save of the match. Junior
Heather Manting then sealed the deal for the Bears with a shot to the middle of the net.
“Give Belmont a lot of credit for its efforts tonight,” stated Coach
Grant Serafy. “I couldn’t be more proud of my players. Jean Worts made a great save and Heather Manting did what she is very capable of doing and that is making a big play. We need to continue to make the big plays.”
The Bears will play in the Atlantic Sun Tournament Championship match on Saturday, November 10, at 6 p.m. Mercer is set to play the winner of tonight’s 7 p.m. semi-final match between No. 1 Kennesaw State and No. 4 ETSU.