Nov. 6, 2008
Final Stats
KENNESAW, Ga. - In the highest scoring Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament match since 1998, the Kennesaw State Owls lost in a 4-2 shootout to the Belmont Bruins in the semifinal match of the conference tournament on Thursday night at the KSU Soccer Complex.
"Shootouts can be a difficult thing," said head coach Rob King. "It's really anyone's game."
Both first round shooters were successful with Belmont's Annie Mussachio and KSU's Caroline Austin beating out the keeper's. But after Jayme Trocino and Elizabeth Bublis made their shots, the next two KSU players' shots were stopped by BU's All-Freshman goalkeeper, Sari Lin.
KSU's keeper, Jamie Moroney, stopped Jamie Bullock's attempt and Rachel Baer kept the Owls hopes of a victory alive after driving a shot past Lin. All-Conference Jessica Rix secured Belmont's victory with a hard kick past Moroney's right hand.
Kennesaw State (11-4-5) dominated offensively in the first 15 minutes of the match that resulted in a Kristin Kranick goal in the 27th minute, her fifth of the year. The Kennesaw, Ga. native took the shot from 15 yards out after receiving a pass from senior First Team All-Conference Rachel Baer.
The Bruins (13-6-2) didn't let the Owls hold on to the lead for long, tying it up at 1 a piece in the 30th minute when Madison Porter rebounded a blocked shot from Alex Mindel that sailed into the right side of the goal.
After dribbling past two defenders, Yasha Blount sent a cross to Baer who sailed a shot past Belmont's keeper from 20 yards out in the 31st minute to put KSU up 2-1. The goal was Baer's 11th of the season and Blount's fourth assist.
Belmont didn't waste any time tying the match up at two in the second half as Erica Carter scored her second goal of the season and of the tournament in the 50th minute on a give and go from Elizabeth Bublis.
Jamie Moroney picked up her first save of the night, diving to her right to save a header from Marcela Sanchez.
Kennesaw State had plenty of opportunities to score in the final 15 minutes of the half as they had three consecutive corner kicks that were all stopped by the Belmont defense.
BU's Anna Walsh sent a long ball to a sprinting Sanchez who beat out two KSU defenders, to put the Bruins up 3-2 in the 65th minute.
The final eight minutes were a battle between the two teams with KSU on the offensive attack for most of the time, trying desperately to tie the game up. Beth Meadors had two shots that sailed high but it was Yasha Blount who saved the day, tying the game up with a pass from Sadjr Williams that landed in between three players for the Blount put-in with only a minute and a half remaining. The goal marked Blount's third of the season.
The Owls narrowly escaped defeat in the second half when Mussachio sent a shot toward the goal that nicked the post and fell out of bounds in the final seconds.
In the first overtime, it was Belmont's Jamie Bullock who got off the first shot but Moroney came up with another save. Jessica Kalonji, Bridget Gaughan and the KSU defense held the Bruins to three shots while Katie Scott and Baer each took a shot in the final three minutes, coming up short.
"We had our chances to score in the first overtime," said King. "We just didn't put any of our shots away."
The second overtime wasn't much different as both teams took their share of shots. Beth Meadors attempted a header off a Caroline Austin corner kick that was blocked just seconds before the half ended, forcing the shootout.
"It was back and forth the whole match," said King. "Both teams gave everything they had and I am so proud of how our young girls played."
This is the first time in history that the Bruins advanced to the Championship match and the first time since 2002 that a No. 3 seed has made it past the semifinal round.
Belmont will play No. 1 Mercer on Saturday night for the A-Sun championship at 6:00 p.m. at the KSU Soccer Complex.
