Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. – Sophomore Erin O'Connor put home the game-winner during the 106th minute of action to lift the No. 3 seed LIU Post women's soccer team into the East Coast Conference championship match with a 2-1 victory against No. 2 seed Mercy College, at Mercy Field on Tuesday, Oct. 30.
In a game destined to be decided by penalty kicks, freshman Kendra Oldroyd flipped the script when she secured possession of a loose ball off of a free kick from midfield. Oldroyd beat her defender to the end line where she found O'Connor with a pass to the top of the six-yard box and the sophomore sent a left-footed shot to the far post to propel LIU Post to the conference championship match for the third-consecutive season.
The Green and Gold were forced to come from behind during the second half to send the game to extra time. Despite several scoring chances during the first 45 minutes, the Pioneers were held scoreless thanks to two balls off the crossbar and a great save by Maverick goalkeeper Melissa Torres. Mercy capitalized on a corner kick during the 27th minute when Haley Noble tapped in a kick that sailed to the back post for the game's opening score.
The 1-0 score carried into halftime, though the Pioneers held a 7-5 edge in shots during the period. It took less than 10 minutes for LIU Post to level the scoring when junior Julia Duffy took a pass from O'Connor at the left edge of the penalty area and held off her defender before sending a curling right-footed shot to the right post to make it 1-1. Sophomore Sydney Pasquarella had a great chance during the 86th minute but Torres secured her shot attempt from the right side of the box to help keep the game tied.
Neither side had great opportunities during the first overtime period, and as fatigue started to set in, the Pioneers capitalized on their final opportunity of the day to down the Mavericks on the road.
The Pioneers outshot the Mavericks, 12-9 on the day and held a 7-2 edge in corner kicks. Senior Hillevi Eklow made three saves on the day to earn the win in goal for her 41st-career victory.
Prior to the match, the ECC honored sophomore Ida Lagerqvist with the league's Elite 19 award. The award is based off the NCAA's Elite 90 award and recognizes the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average competing at each of the league's championship events. Lagerqvist earned the recognition by compiling a perfect 4.0 GPA as a journalism major at LIU Post.
-Provided by LIU Post Sports Information Department.
