Drew University Athletics

WASHINGTON – The Drew University women's soccer team battled No. 2-seeded Catholic University to overtime, but the Cardinals scored the game-winner in the first OT session to come away with a 1-0 victory in the semifinals of the Landmark Conference Championship on Thursday.
 
The third-seeded Rangers finished the season with a record of 12-7-1 while Catholic (12-4-3) moves on to the championship match to face top-seeded Scranton, a 5-1 winner over No. 5 Elizabethtown in the other semifinal.
 
Freshman Sarah Crowley turned in a big performance between the pipes for the Rangers, recording eight saves to tie her second-highest total for the season.
 
The hosts held a 6-3 edge in shots during the first half, but that's when Crowley collected three of her stops.
 
Catholic turned up the pressure in the second half, when it outshot the Rangers 10-4 but was still unable to dent Crowley, who made an additional six saves in the period.
 
Drew nearly broke through on several occasions late in regulation. In the 76th minute, junior Alexa Krause chased down a loose ball in the attacking third and eluded a defender, opening up a 1-on-1 with the keeper. But her left-footer sailed just wide right.
 
In the 81st minute, sophomore Mazzy Cirinelli gained possession near midfield and sent a pass through the defense to a breaking Rebecca Racine. She was able to fire off a shot from the top of the box just before she was met by Catholic goalie Ava Rieger, but her attempt missed left.
 
The Rangers came up with a big defensive stand in the 83rd minute. With Crowley off her line, Cirinelli knocked away a ball headed for the net, seconds before senior Jessie Brannick also cleared a shot that was on frame.
 
Racine created another opportunity for the Rangers in the 88th minute, gaining possession near midfield and delivered a pass out wide to Krause on the left side. She cut back toward the center of the field and drilled a long shot that sailed just to the left of the goal.
 
Three and a half minutes into the first overtime, Catholic gained control of a loose ball near midfield. Jordan Siok sent a short pass up to Doherty on the left side, and Doherty slotted a shot just inside the far post for what held up as the game-winner.
 
Each side attempted one shot in the second OT, and for Drew it was their lone shot on goal for the night. But sophomore Kayla Kuncken's long-range blast in the 108th minute found its way into the hands of Rieger.
 
Catholic finished with advantages in shots (21-8) and corner kicks (2-1).