SELINSGROVE, PA - The Susquehanna University Women's Soccer team had their season end on Wednesday night in heartbreaking fashion, losing to Elizabethtown in penalty kicks, 8-7. After 120 minutes of play saw the teams remain tied at two goals apiece, the game went into penalty kicks, which saw a total of 20 kicks attempted by both teams. 

Susquehanna began the game with strong play, consistently winning possession in the midfield and stopping the attack of the Blue Jays. The River Hawks were the first to get on the scoreboard when Anna Werner knocked in her seventh goal of the 2021 season. The senior forward received an excellent ball into the box from Avery Francis and beat her defender to the right-side edge of the box, where she took the shot and buried it into the left corner of the net. 

The score would remain 1-0 into halftime, with Susquehanna holding a 7-4 advantage in shots, all without earning a corner in the first period. Elizabethtown keeper Trinity Soto stopped five shots in the half, keeping the game well within reach for the Blue Jays.

The Blue Jays were able to tie the game at the outset of the first half, as Sydney Reich scored in the 51st minute. 15 minutes later, Elizabethtown took a brief lead, as Maddie McWhinney scored in the 66th minute. 

Even with a deflated crowd, the River Hawks responded quickly as Gillian Maack scored an unassisted goal in traffic, knocking in the shot with her left foot just past the keeper. The goal sent the Susquehanna faithful into a frenzy, as the game was once again tied. 

With the momentum now back on the side of Susquehanna, it felt like the River Hawks could retake the lead and advance. However, despite plenty of chances for both sides, the score would remain deadlocked at two apiece, sending the game overtime.

The first overtime saw little action, as each team took only one shot, with both being saved by their respective goalies. In the second overtime, the stalemate continued as each team struggled to work any good looks at the net. Susquehanna had their best shot to win the game in the 109th minute off a corner kick, but the River Hawk shot missed wide left. 

In penalty kicks, Susquehanna had two chances to win, but were not able to sink their shots. On the 20th total attempt, the River Hawks finally missed after an Elizabethtown make, sending the Blue Jays to the Landmark Conference championship game for the first time in their program's history.

Susquehanna ends their season, finishing at 11-4-1 and fails to advance to the conference championship game for the first time since 2016. Susquehanna finishes the season losing only once in conference play, to the undefeated Scranton Royals, who will also play for the conference championship.

The team will graduate eleven seniors, each of which helped to turn in one of the best four-year runs in program history. 

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