Conference Tournament semifinal round action took place on Friday. The La Salle Explorers were the only local team to advance to the league final and will play for a bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Explorers will play VCU for the Atlantic 10 Championship. The season ended for the Saint Joseph’s Hawks and the Drexel Dragons who were eliminated.
ATLANTIC 10 SEMIFINAL ROUND
#1 La Salle Explorers 2 #4 Duquesne Dukes 1 (OT)
The La Salle Explorers advanced to the Atlantic 10 final when Madison Bower scored on a left footer inside the far post in the 97th minute. Kristin Haugstad got the assist. It was fitting the game winner came from the Explorers leading scorers.
Bower’s golden goal completed a comeback for the resilient Explorers who tied the game with 1:08 on the clock in regulation. Katherine Hennessey got the ball on a deflection and tucked it inside the far post. It was her first goal of the season.
Duquesne tool the lead on a goal by Katie O’Connor in the 71st minute.
La Salle had a 20 – 14 lead in shots. The Explorers will face the 6th seeded VCU Rams in the final.
#6 VCU Rams 1 #7 Saint Joseph’s Hawks 0
The Hawks bid for a trip to the Atlantic 10 final fell short when the Rams Megan Dell converted a penalty kick in the 71st minute for the only goal of the game. Saint Joe’s goal keeper Grace Bendon made a game-high 7 saves. VCU had a 15 – 7 edge in shots. Seven different Hawks recorded a shot. SJU registered 8 corner kicks to 3 for VCU.
Saint Joseph’s has advanced to the the Atlantic 10 Championships in four straight years. The Hawks finished the season with an 11 – 6 – 3 record, 5 – 3 – 2 in conference play.
CAA SEMIFINAL ROUND
#3 Northeastern Huskies 2 #2 Drexel Dragons 0
The Huskies scored two goals in a five and a half minute span late in the first half to earn a shutout victory in the semifinal match. Lizzie George scored at the 24:39 mark to open the scoring. Hannah Rosenblatt put the ball in the back of the net for Northeastern just 6 seconds before halftime to provide the margin of victory.
Drexel outshot Northeastern in shots on goal, but trailed 17 – 12 in shots. Imani Walker had 3 shots for the Dragons, 2 were on goal. Shaelyn McCarty also had 3 shots, one forced a save.
The season ends for Drexel with an 11 – 7 – 1 record. They were 6 – 2 – 1 in the Colonial.
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