Altoona, PA- This afternoon after a hard overtime playoff game loss, the Redhawks were knocked out of the conference championships.
No goals were scored by either team until the second half of the contest. LaRoche's Alexandra Mecchia scored the first goal (54:49), her fifth of the season. This was a 25-yard shot that went through Altoona's keeper, Jaydn Michael's hands.
The Lions quickly responded to Mecchia's goal at 73:19. Sadie McConnell was the goal scorer assisted by Sarah Huston. This shot was from the outside box and was deflected in off the c-barr. This was McConnell's seventh goal of the season.
This tied up the game for the Lions and the Redhawks.
Alondra Gonzalez, with help from Chastity Bundy, came back with an answer of her own; scoring from the far sideline in the top right of the goal (76:38), her ninth of the season. This put the Redhawks back up my one. But, ever good soccer fan knows that there's never enough breathing room during a conference playoff game, and certainly not when that breathing room is only one goal
After this goal Penn State-Altoona made the decision to switch out their goalie and put Adeline Baustert in to finish up the game.
Minutes after this substitution was made the Lions scored the tying goal of the game. This goal was scored by Mallorie Smith and assisted by Amanda Hazel (81:46). This was goal number 10 of the season for Smith. The goal was scored towards the outside of the box and deflected in on the top right.
The minutes to end regular season play was fought hard by both teams. Piper Claypool for LaRoche took a shot at goal that was blocked, and Sarah Huston took a shot of her own that was saved by Redhawks' goalie, Bella Costanzo.
At the end of regulation time, the Lions and the Redhawks were tied 2-2 in the first round of AMCC playoffs.
Per overtime regulations, each team took a short break to regroup, and then the players were back out on the field, 10 minutes on the clock. Overtime in soccer works in a "sudden death" scenario. What this means is, the first team to score a goal no matter how much or little time is on the clock wins. The opposing team does not get any of the team remaining on the clock to also score. Once the first goal is scored that's it, contest over.
Unfortunately for the Redhawks at 94:34 Mallorie Smith, (second goal of the game, 11th of the season) again assisted by Sarah Huston, scored a goal in the bottom left of the goal from inside the box.
The Lions defeated the Redhawks 3-2 in overtime.
LaRoche finished their season with a record of 5-11-1. Penn State-Altoona will move on to play #1 seed, Penn State-Behrend.