Posted: Oct 29, 2011
NEW LONDON, N.H. – The Johnson State College women's soccer team were eliminated in heartbreaking fashion on Saturday as host Colby-Sawyer College advanced to the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) semifinals after defeating the Badgers in penalty kicks.
The Chargers (12-6-1) will host the winner of the Husson/University of Maine at Farmington match, in a semifinal contest at 2:00 pm on Tuesday. Johnson finishes their season with a 8-5-3 record.
After a scoreless 110 minutes, the teams participated in one of the greatest spectacles in sport; the penalty kick shootout.
The first three shooters on both teams easily made their goals. The Badgers, who elected to kick first, sent sophomore Jen Ferrari (Westfield, Mass./Westfield) for the team's fourth attempt. Colby-Sawyer keeper Shalyn Spencer (Natick, Mass.) was able to make a diving save to deny the Badgers a lead. The Chargers then sent Andi Logan (Eliot, Maine) to the spot in hopes of gaining a goal advantage. Logan struck the ball with the inside of her foot and it went just wide of the left corner of the goal, keeping the score tied.
The fifth shooters each made their tries, which sent the decision into sudden death kicks. Johnson State sent Mariah Palmer (St. Albans, Vt./BFA-St. Albans) to attempt the kick. She sent the ball towards the right side of the goal, but Spencer was up to the task again and made a diving save to give the Chargers a chance for the victory.
The Chargers then called upon Abby Wills (Uxbridge, Mass.) who ripped a shot down the center and out of the reach of Badgers goalie Amber McCullock (Morrisville, Vt./Peoples) for the win.
The Chargers controlled play in regulation, outshooting Johnson State 20-5, but the Badgers held possession in the overtime and held a 7-2 edge in shots.
McCullock made 12 saves for Johnson State, which included several game-saving stops. Spencer made six saves.