November 9, 2005
NEWARK, NJ -
Philadelphia won the penalty kick shootout, 4-3, advancing past New Jersey Institute of Technology in the quarterfinal round of the 2005 ECAC Division II Women's Soccer Championship after the teams had played to a 1-1 double overtime tie.
Philadelphia, which trailed the penalty kick session, 1-0, after the first round, evened the shootout score at 2-2 in the third round and advanced thanks to a fifth-round kick by junior Kyra Downing.
NJIT had taken the 1-0 shootout lead when freshman Katie DeRosa converted her first-round kick after Highlander goalkeeper Bruna Lotufo had stopped Philadelphia's first try.
The shootout session nearly paralleled the game, as DeRosa had staked NJIT to a 1-0 lead on a goal in the 58th minute, while Downing had saved the night for her team with a tying goal in the 81st munute.
Philadelphia, the #4 seed, advances to face #1 seed Saint Rose in the semifinal round on Saturday at 11 am. Earlier, #6 Dowling defeated #3 Queens, 4-2, and will face #2 Bridgeport on Saturday at 1:30 pm. All games in the six-team tournament, including Sunday's 11 am championship game are being hosted by NJIT.
Wednesday's doubleheader, which began at 5 pm, ended at 11:30 pm, due to a delay of more than 90 minutes caused by lightning with just under 30 minutes remaining in the second half of the Queens-Dowling game.
Although the NJIT-Philadelphia game is recorded as a 1-1 tie in the statistical records of each team, the penalty kick shootout is used to determine which team advances to the next round in postseason. Each team is entitled to five penalty kicks, with the teams alternating attempts.
Philadelphia came from behind to win the shootout after trailing, 1-0, at the end of the first round, after NJIT goalkeeper Bruna Lotufo saved Philadelphia's first try and freshman Katie DeRosa, walking with a noticeable limp, converted NJIT's first try.
NJIT held its lead through the second round, before Philadelphia goalkeeper Sara Hall made a save in the third round, leveling the score at 2-2 through three rounds. Both teams scored in the fourth round, before Downing led off round five with a goal and NJIT misfired wide right on its fifth and final shot.
Despite starting an hour and a half late, the two teams gave a spirited effort through both halves of regulation and then through two 10-minute overtime periods.
After a scoreless first half, the freshman DeRosa staked the Highlanders to a 1-0 lead on a close shot from in front of the goal at 57:52, assisted by Erika Taugher.
NJIT clung to the lead heading into the final 10 minutes of regulation, but Downing got the equalizer at 80:37, firing a direct free kick under the crossbar from straight on and 20 yards out.
The teams played 9:23 more of regulation and 20 minutes of overtime before heading to penalty kicks.
Hall made two saves for Philadelphia, now 11-8-2. Lotufo made three saves for the Highlanders, who end the best season in the 10-year history of women's soccer at NJIT with an 8-6-3 record.
In Wednesday's first game, #6 Dowling stunned #3 Queens, jumping to leads of 2-0 and 4-1, before taking the 4-2 victory. The Golden Lions led at the half, 3-1.
Dowling sophomore Christine Pober had two goals and two assists, while classmate Lauren Carbonaro scored twice in the first half and also assisted Pober's second goal.
