Women's Soccer 11/15/08 | ||
NCAA Tournament: | ||
23rd-ranked Richard Stockton (18-3-2) was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament by 10th-ranked Virginia Wesleyan (14-2-4) 6-5 on penalty kicks after the teams played to a 0-0 tie in an NCAA first-round game at Johns Hopkins. Stockton goalkeeper Alex Rogers (Medford/Shawnee) recorded four saves in the game and earned her 10th shutout of the year. Successful penalty kicks by Leah Pocoroba (Galloway/ Holy Spirit), Sara Petersen (Beachwood/Toms River South) and Lindsay Roake (Neptune/Neptune) gave Stockton a 3-2 lead through four rounds of the shootout. After Virginia Wesleyan scored in the top of the fifth, Courtney Dougherty (Ocean City/Ocean City) was denied for Stockton and the shootout moved to sudden death. Two successful penalty kicks by Virginia Wesleyan were matched by conversions from Laura O’Shea (Petersburg/Ocean City) and Samantha Bean (Manchester/ Manchester Twp.) for Stockton. In round eight, the Marlins scored again but then Amanda Altman (Beachwood/Toms River South) hit the post and the Ospreys were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament 6-5 on penalty kicks. Stockton held slight edges of 11-9 in shots and 5-3 in corner kicks as the teams battled through 110 scoreless minutes. Dougherty kept Stockton alive by blocking a shot from near the goal line in the final minute of regulation. The Ospreys outshot Virginia Wesleyan 6-0 in the two overtimes, but they could not break through for the game-winning goal. Stockton made its third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and finished the season with an 18-3-2 record. |