Beckley, W.Va. – The Concord women's soccer team's season came to an end as they fall to The College of Saint Rose 3-2, Saturday afternoon in the Quarterfinal Round of the NCAA Tournament held at the YMCA Paul Cline Complex.
The 2021 Concord women's team (20-1-3) turned in the most successful season in program history, making it to the Quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament for the first time ever.
Both teams had their chances early in the game. Saint Rose (17-1-4) had the first opportunity in the ninth minute of the match when forward Mia Klammer sent a shot towards the bottom-right corner of the net, but senior goalkeeper
Leah Marsh made a nice save to keep the game scoreless.
The only shot on goal for the Mountain Lions in the first half came from junior forward
Rachel Bell, who's bouncing shot was gathered by the Golden Knights goalkeeper Marika Laurendeau.
Saint Rose outshot CU 7-3 in the first half.
A shot by fifth-year senior
Yasmin Mosby in the 58
th minute was punched out of bounds by Laurendeau for a CU corner kick. From the corner, junior midfielder
Michelle Brogden sent a ball into the box that was booted out by a Saint Rose defender. Sophomore defender
Olivia Bekeleski saved the clearing attempt and sent it to Mosby who was able to put it past the keeper to give CU the lead. The goal was Mosby's 26
th of the season, which placed her tied for first in Division II for total goals this season. Bekeleski was credited with her second assist of the season.
Saint Rose answered in the 61
st minute after a corner kick was sent into the box. The ball found the foot of Golden Knights forward Jen Bartlett, who sent her shot over Marsh and into the net to tie the game.
In the 71
st minute, the Mountain Lions set up an attack as Mosby was able to send a cross into the box. Brogden's diving-header attempt was successful as she redirected the pass into the open net.
Once again, Saint Rose answered in the 78
th minute. Klammer's throw-in was headed by Lauren Amerena to Ciera Lundy who headed it into the top-right corner of the net to tie the game at 2-2.
Concord had a chance in the 85
th minute when junior defender
Zoe Belding beat her defender, but her shot was blocked away by Laurendeau.
The Golden Knights scored in the third minute of the first overtime on a header by Lexi Grassia.
Marsh finished the day with a season-high seven saves.
Concord will be one of four with 20 or more wins this season. Saturday was the final game in the careers of senior midfielder
Amanda Banfield, fifth-year senior defender
Morgan Carmichael, senior midfielder
Jasmine Daily, senior forward
Leah Foster, fifth-year senior defender
Alyssa Mahar, Marsh, Mosby, senior defender
Leigh Wightman, and senior midfielder
Abby Wishon.
