Brandywine Edged In Penalty Kicks; Beaver Claims Women’s Soccer Title

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State Brandywine and Penn State Beaver played to a 1-1 draw through 110 minutes, sending the PSUAC Women's Soccer Championship to penalty kicks, where Beaver edged Brandywine 2-0 to capture the title during the league's first-ever women's soccer championship match on Sunday afternoon in State College.

After taking first place during the regular season and earning the No. 1 seed for the championship, Brandywine completed its first varsity season with a 7-2-2 record. The Lions ended the year riding a six-game unbeaten streak (4-0-2) and featured four all-conference standouts.

Sophomore goalkeeper Alyssa Abbonizio (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) turned in a valiant effort in net for the Lions, stopping 10-of-11 shots in 110 minutes of play. All-PSUAC first teamer Mary Mitcheli (Garnet Valley, Pa./Garnet Valley) delivered Brandywine's goal, her third of the season.

Mitcheli received a pass from Ami Iannello (Media, Pa./Strath Haven) and ripped a shot from the left side of the box over Beaver goalkeeper Brittany Zahn for the match's first goal, just 8:06 into the first half.

Beaver tied the score with just under three minutes to play before halftime when Marissa Bucklen intercepted a Brandywine clearing attempt and sent a shot through the wind and into the back of the net.

Both teams had opportunities to score during the next 45 minutes, but Abbonizio and Zahn were up to the task, stopping each shot they faced as the game moved to overtime.

Each goalie was tested once during the first overtime period as Abbonizio blocked Courtney Harden's drive and Zahn turned away a shot from Arianna Segich (Ocean City, N.J./Ocean City).

Iannello, playing through injury, collected Brandywine's lone shot on goal during the final 10 minutes, while Abbonizio stopped Jessica Spina's shot minutes later. Spina then produced the top scoring chance of overtime when she sprinted past the Brandywine defense and slid a shot past Abbonizio, but it hit the post and Abbonizio collected the rebound before Beaver could gain another opportunity.

Beaver's first two penalty kicks were successful and, despite a pair of stops by Abbonizio, Beaver held on for a 2-0 triumph to claim the PSUAC title.

Both teams registered 14 shots during the game. Segich and Olivia Encarnacion (Glenolden, Pa./Interboro) paced the Lions with three shots each.