SELINSGROVE, PA (November 1, 2022) – Making their sixth consecutive appearance in the Landmark Conference Tournament, the Susquehanna women's soccer team, having earned the second seed this season, welcomed third-seeded Drew University to Sassafras Field for their semifinal matchup. One year removed from their heart-breaking defeat on penalty kicks in the semifinal round against Elizabethtown, SU was dealt another painful semifinal exit, this time falling 1-0 to the Rangers in double overtime.
The River Hawks were in control early, piling on pressure and offensive chances. They would have seven shots and force four saves from the Drew keeper in just the first half, while the Rangers did not manage to test Paisley Tornatore at all in the frame. SU looked bound to take the lead in the 23rd minute when a corner kick from Emily Wertz landed perfectly on the head of Marley Clendenin at the back post, who nodded the ball toward goal beyond the reach of the goalkeeper. But a goal line clearance from a Drew defender saved the would-be opening goal.
Drew would begin to return fire in the second half, finally forcing saves from Tornatore but also continuing to face attacking threats from Susquehanna. Despite the back-and-forth, the teams remained scoreless as the minutes waned in regulation. Late drama arose in the 85th minute, as Drew was awarded a penalty kick after a foul inside the box. With the Rangers looking poised to take the lead with time running out, expectations would again be subverted, as the penalty would be missed wide right of the goal.
After all the dramatics, the teams were bound for extra soccer as the match entered overtime, and Susquehanna had one of their best scoring chances of the match midway through the first overtime period. Wertz would beat a defender down the left side of the field and play a cross into the middle, onto the foot of Delaney Morton for a volleyed finish. While the combination between the two attackers has yielded goals on multiple occasions this season, this time would see the finish brushed inches wide left of the goal, seeing another chance to take the lead go begging.
After all the chances, it would be the 105th minute that finally saw a goalkeeper beaten, and that would go in favor of the Rangers. The River Hawks had a corner kick chance cleared out just prior, and a quick tackle near midfield by Alexa Krause yielded a breakaway chance for the conference's leading scorer, one which she would make no mistake with. Tornatore rushed forward to attempt to close off the one-on-one chance, but a quick touch from Krause to put the ball to the left of the keeper put her past with an open net in front of her. The finish was simple from there, and Drew claimed the lead with only five minutes remaining in overtime.
The River Hawks gave their all to find an equalizer in the remaining time, but the final shot of the game saw Wertz put a shot just over the crossbar, and time expired with Drew claiming their place in the Landmark Championship.
Susquehanna will hope to break their streak of semifinal round exits in 2023, but will take solace in what has been a record-breaking campaign this season, as the River Hawks went on a remarkable 11-game shutout win streak and saw prolific offensive output from multiple players.
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--RIVER HAWKS--
