Garden City, N.Y. — The No. 1 seeded Adelphi women's soccer team played host to No. 8 Southern Connecticut State on Sunday afternoon in the quarterfinal round of the NE10 Championship.
The first 20 minutes were slow for both teams with only one shot from SCSU registering. Adelphi would slowly play their game and finally found the opening they wanted in the 24th minute. Kayleigh Goodrich would beat an Owl defender down the sideline, pass the ball to Madison Apicella who would make an impressive move at the touch line before sending it back to Goodrich. The sophomore would find the back of the net on the Panthers' first shot of the game.
Adelphi would continue its pressure, pushing the offense forward. Just before halftime Julia Craig would fly down the sideline and give the Panthers a look at goal right before the halftime horn sounded. The ball found the feet of Sophia Cataldo who would send a quick pass to Gia Mandile. Mandile, with her head on a swivel, sent a through ball to Dylann Trahey who struck for her first goal of the season and a 2-0 Panther lead going into the break.
While the first half was dominated by the 'Cats, the early goings of the second period were completely flipped. SCSU would get within one less than one minute into the half and then tie the game just seven minutes later. Adelphi was now completely on their heels as momentum had flipped entirely. In the 61st minute an Owl attacker fired a shot that went bar down but did not cross the line.
After that shot, it seemed as the Panthers began to settle down and play their game again. SCSU was no longer dominating and in the 74th minute, Mandile struck. A ball won by Trahey would be sent to the Emerson, N.J. native and she sent a beautiful shot into the upper 90 of the net for another Panther lead.
Adelphi would play solid defense for the next 15 minutes as the Owls cleared the bench for a last ditch effort. SCSU continued to send the ball forward and were awarded a corner kick in the 89th minute. This corner would be fruitful for the opponent as a perfect ball sent to the near post would find the head of an Owl and send the quarterfinal into overtime.
On the sidelines, the Panthers were not shaken. They knew one goal would send them into the next round. Carly Issing would set the tone in the 92nd minute, firing a shot that would be saved.
SCSU would be awarded another corner three minutes later but this time Peyton DeRouen was there for the save. Adelphi shot up the field and were then given a corner of their own. Madison Apicella sent in a beautiful cross that would find Goodrich, who headed the ball in past the outstretched Owl goalkeeper for a 4-3 overtime win.
Head coach Brooke DeRosa and the Panthers will host No. 4 Bentley in the conference semifinal on Thursday at Motamed Field.
