Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. - Second half goals by seniors Jenna Petel (Cypress, Calif. /Santiago Canyon College) and Jessica Carrillo (San Diego, Calif. / Miramar College) vaulted the No. 17 Mercy College women's soccer team into the NCAA East Regional Final on Friday, as they defeated the University of Bridgeport, 2-1.
The Mavericks improve to 17-2-1 overall and will now face the Golden Knights of the College of St. Rose on Friday, Nov. 21, while the Purple Knights finish their season at 14-5-2.
After winning their first ECC championship on Nov. 7, the Mavericks had a 10 day layoff before they played the Purple Knights on Sunday. Bridgeport dispatched Philadelphia University on Friday with a 2-0 victory in the first round, setting up the third matchup in almost 60 days between the two schools.
A cold, overcast mid-November afternoon set the stage for the first regional semifinal to be played on the Hudson.
Bridgeport almost took an early lead in the 7th minute, as sophomore Danielle Puddefoot went one-on-one with junior goalkeeper Nicole Augustine (Kingston, N.Y. / Kingston). Augustine came out to play the ball and Puddefoot attempted to fire a shot over Augustine's head. Augustine stopped the ball's momentum with her feet and corralled the ball with her right hand, which prevented Puddefoot from getting a second shot on frame.
The game remained scoreless at the intermission.
In the second half, Bridgeport continued to test the Mercy defense. In the 51st minute, the Purple Knights received a corner kick, which was taken by freshman Ellen Karlsson. Karlsson hit fellow classmate Sophie Sorkvist at the top of the 18 yard box. Sorkvist fired the ball towards the net and Augustine made a two handed diving save.
The Mercy defense stepped up again just two minutes later, as Puddefoot pulled Augustine out of the goal to play the ball. Puddefoot rifled a shot towards a wide open net, but ECC Rookie of the Year Samantha Scovel (La Mirada, Calif. / La Mirada) knocked the ball off the line to keep the game scoreless.
The scoreless drought was broken in the 70th minute, as senior MacKenzie Cochrane (Mission Viejo, Calif. / Fresno State University) took the corner and played the ball into the six yard box, Patel jumped up and headed the ball in for the 1-0 lead.
The Mavericks almost scored immediately after as junior Jessica DeLeon (Phoenix, Ariz. /Paradise Valley CC) shot was stopped by a diving save from Bridgeport goalkeeper Kaitlin Occhipinti.
Mercy increased their lead in the 77th minute, as Carrillo received a thru ball off a Purple Knights turnover. Carrillo played the ball very wide to the left and then kicked the ball back to the right, putting Occhipinti out of position and giving Mercy a 2-0 lead.
Bridgeport scored a goal late in the 88th minute to cut the Mercy lead to 2-1, but time ran out on Head Coach Magnus Nilerud and his Purple Knights.
For Mercy, Augustine made five saves in 90 minutes of work.
Head Coach Jonathan Feinstein and the Mavericks return to action on Friday Nov. 21st, as they travel to West Chester, Pa. to face the College of St. Rose on the campus of West Chester University.
Provided by the Mercy Sports Information Department.
