Knights suffer heartbreaking overtime loss to Alvernia

READING, Pa.: After Arcadia first year Alex Stoner (Elkton, MD/Elkton) gave the Knights a 1-0 lead, Alvernia senior Amy Mesce scored the game tying goal three minutes later and again in the final two minutes of the second overtime period to lift the host Crusaders to a 2-1 regular season ending Commonwealth Conference women's soccer victory during Saturday afternoon's snowstorm at Schlager Memorial Field.

Stoner gave Arcadia a 1-0 cushion in the 34^th minute on an assist from sophomore Alex Davis (Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown). It was the first year's first tally since scoring her career first back on Sept. 10 in the team's 3-1 victory over Ramapo. Yet, the Knight's lead wouldn't last more than three minutes, as Mesce cleaned up a scrum in front of Arcadia keeper Jackie Law (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains) to knot the game at 1-1.

By the half, Schlager Field was snow-covered as the team's retreated indoors for the 15 minute intermission.

Both teams managed five shots apiece in the second half, but neither squad was able to forge ahead. Reserves from both teams took cover under piles of blankets and jackets and tried to stay warm by pacing the track behind each team's bench, however, by the time the end of regulation was reached, the score was still locked up at 1-1.

First year Nina Barbieri (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) sent the first shot on goal of overtime into Alvernia keeper Lindsey Neubauer, but Neubauer was up to the challenge, tipping the ball over the crossbar. Arcadia closed the first overtime with another shot on from Stoner, again turned aside by Neubauer.

During the final overtime period, Law came up with three key stops, including one on Mesce in the 104^th minute. Alvernia's Karli Nestor nearly ended things when she beat Law on the dribble but Arcadia's defense swarmed to her and kicked the ball off her foot. The Crusaders (11-7-1, 3-3-1) managed to out-shoot Arcadia 7-2 in the final overtime and were rewarded when Mesce slotted the game winner in the top left corner, assisted by Rachel Gimber at 108:06.

Law finished with 8 saves for Arcadia while the Knights registered one team save against the Crusaders. Neubauer finished with 5 saves for the victors.

The Knights (9-5-3/2-3-2), needing a win or tie in today's regular season league final to remain in contention for the final two playoff berths up for grabs, sees a longstanding and impressive 16 season post-season streak come to a close, missing their first conference postseason tournament since the 1995 season as a result of today's loss.

Ranked No. 10 in the latest NSCAA Mid-Atlantic rankings, Arcadia has struggled for offense down the stretch, being out-scored 15-7 in the month of October with the team going 2-3-2 overall and 2-2-2 against Commonwealth opponents in that time. A lowlight during that stretch being the season-ending loss of leading scorer Sara Volk-Perez (17 pts.) due to an injury following the team's loss at Lebanon Valley on Oct. 18.

Alvernia, meanwhile, keeps hope alive for their second straight playoff appearance depending on the outcome of the Albright-Widener match which was postponed due to today's weather. The playoffs will be sorted out once the regular season games are completed tomorrow afternoon.

The Commonwealth semifinals are tentatively scheduled to start on Tuesday.

Arcadia remains hopeful that their consistent Mid-Atlantic regional rankings and national ranking during the fifth week of the season will lead to an at-large bid for the 2011 NCAA Women's Soccer Championships.

Print Friendly Version