Brandywine Fights Back; Drops One-Goal Decision To Albany Pharmacy

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – No. 9 Penn State Brandywine dominated the final 45 minutes, scoring a pair of goals, while outshooting Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences 16-4, but dropped a 3-2 decision to the fourth-seeded Panthers at the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Soccer Tournament on Friday morning.

USCAA Women's Soccer Player of the Year Katie Benson provided three first half goals to give Albany a 3-0 lead at the break. The Lions were held off the scoreboard despite six shots on goal as Panther goalkeeper Sally Slowinski turned away each attempt.

Playing in strong winds, the Lions had the wind at their backs in the second half and pushed Albany with near constant pressure over the final 45 minutes.

Christina Kane (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland) broke Brandywine's scoreless drought in the 66^th minute as she took all-American Samantha Bearden's (Ewing, N.J./Ewing) crossing pass and deposited it into the back corner of the net to make the score 3-1.

Brandywine continued to push and drew one goal closer when two-time all-American Brianna Banks (Philadelphia, Pa./Parkway Center) netted her 20^th goal of the year after taking a feed from Rachel Weir (Neptune City, N.J./Red Bank Regional) at the 80:08 mark.

The Lions pressed on, but were only able to muster one shot, which sailed wide, over the final nine minutes and could not find the game-tying goal.

Bearden topped the team with four shots on goal, while Kane and Banks each recorded three. Backed by a 16-4 margin in the second half, the Lions held a 26-17 advantage in the shot column.

Goalkeeper Emily Bush (Bayville, N.J./Central Regional) came up with 11 saves, including eight during the first half, to keep Brandywine in the match, while Slowinski blocked 15 shots for Albany.

Brandywine (10-2-1) will face Johnson & Wales (N.C.) on Saturday morning at 10:00 am during its second match at the USCAA Tournament.