Molloy University Athletics

Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. – For the fifth time in program history, the second-seeded Molloy women's soccer team reigns as East Coast Conference Champions, topping the top-seeded Mercy, 6-5, in a penalty-kick shootout.
 
Junior forward Jana Strait was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, after collecting four points (two goals) and totaling eight shots with five coming on goal throughout the tournament.
 
The cardinal and white move to 7-6-4 on the campaign and clinch a spot in the NCAA tournament for the fifth time in program history.  
 
How it Happened

• 3:21 into the contest, the Lions were called for a handball inside the 18-yard box, earning a penalty kick for the Mavericks.
• Mercy defender Sarah Lill Hanks stepped to the penalty dot and blasted it into the back of the net to give the home team the lead, 1-0.
• Molloy collected their first shot on goal in the contest in the 15^th minute after junior Jana Strait fired a shot from 25-yards out, but a save was made by Mavericks goalkeeper Anneliese Becker.
• The home team looked to go up by two in the 28^th minute, but senior goalkeeper Elyse Muñoz made a save on Hailey Metzger.
• The contest settled into a possession battle until the 38^th minute, when Becker came off her line to challenge for a loose ball, but mistimed it causing a foul into the 18-yard box, awarding Molloy a penalty kick.
• Strait approached the penalty spot, went left as Becker went to the right and scored the tying goal to set the contest at 1-1.
• The Lions mustered one more shot on goal in the 44^th minute from senior Madison Keenan, but her shot was saved, sending the game into halftime knotted at one.
• The opening 20 minutes of the second half saw a total of five shots with the Lions outshooting the Mavericks, 4-1, in that span, but both defenses would not allow any of the attempts to land on target.
• The contest remained a defensive, possession battle with limited chances until the 83^rd minute. Junior Emily Scali found a wide-open space down the heart of the field and found herself one-on-one with Becker, but Scali's go-ahead attempt would be denied by Becker, keeping the contest tied after 90 minutes to force overtime.
• In the first overtime period, Metzger settled down a loose ball and fired it at goal with the shot ringing off the inside off the cross bar and out in the 95^th minute.
• Entering the second overtime, Astrid Borglund looked for the game-winner, but Muñoz would make a comfortable save in the 103^rd minute.
• Junior Bella Juliano created a pair of chances in the 104^th and 105^th minute, but Becker would punch one over the cross bar and secure a second save to keep the contest tied.
• The last chance came from the Lions in the 107^th minute when senior Madison Keenan sent in a rebound shot back towards goal, with Becker making a calming save, sending the ECC Final into a penalty-kick shootout.
• The shootout began in favor of Mercy, as they Mavericks converted on their first attempt before the Lions had their first chance saved.
• The teams would trade made attempts for the next three rounds as Juliano, Muñoz, and junior Meghan Wetzel converted. Molloy trailed in the shootout, 4-3, with Metzger stepping to the spot for a chance to win it.
• Muñoz would guess correctly, making a leaping save to her right side to give the cardinal and white one more chance to continue the shootout.
• Strait stepped up with the game on the line and buried her attempt to extend the shootout.
• The next attempt from each team found the back of the net, extending the shootout into the seventh round.
• Mercy began the round sending a shot high of the bar, setting up a make it and win scenario for the Lions.
• Sophomore Angelina Rodriguez stepped to the spot and belted a shot into the back of the net, clinching the crown for the Lions, in a 6-5 shootout victory.

Top Performances

• Strait netted her ninth goal of the season.
• In goal, Muñoz made two saves in regulation and converted a save in the penalty-kick shootout.
• Rodriguez's penalty-kick game-winner served as her first of her career. 

Up Next
The Lions earned a berth to the NCAA East Regional. The selection show will air Monday, November 9 at 7:00 p.m. on NCAA.com. Check molloylions.com to stay up to date on the opponent and time of the match.