For the second time in three seasons, the Chestnut Hill College Women's Soccer team has had a conference tournament game reach the penalty kick phase after two overtime periods. However, unlike 2022, the Griffins dropped their quarterfinal Central Atlantic Collegiate conference Tournament quarterfinal game on penalty kicks to Caldwell University.
The two teams played to a scoreless tie after two ten minute overtimes, just as Caldwell and Chestnut Hill did in 2022. The outcome of the penalty kick phase was different this year as the cougars advanced to the semi-finals, beating the Griffins on penalty kicks 4-1.
Caldwell's Isabella Vitella mad her kick to start things off and Abby Galazka matched her to even the score at 1-1. The Cougars scored on their second kick while Rebecca Dalton's kick attempt was stopped by cougar goalkeeper Arianna Gaminara. Another Cougar goal in round three gave Caldwell a 3-1 edge where it remained after Lauren Sullivan's kick attempt was saved.
The Cougars then clinched the penalty kick win on a kick from Suri Silva which got by Griffin goalkeeper Haley Esposito.
The game itself was an instant classic with both teams' defenses battling against each other giving the other few opportunities to score. Five different players got a shot on goal in the contest. Galazka and Antonia Linus both had shots on goal in the first 15 minutes and Maddie Camillo and Kaya Mobley added their own scoring opportunities in the second half. Sullivan had the only shot on goal for either team in two overtime periods.
Ellie Stratz made five saves for the Griffins and gets credited for the combined shutout with Esposito.
With the loss, the Griffins finish their season with a 5-8-2 record.
