ALBANY, N.Y.—In the closest and most exciting championship game in Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference women’s soccer tournament history, top seed Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, led by Tournament MVP Amy Jagareski (South Glens Falls, N.Y.), took the title over No. 2 seed SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, claiming a 5-4 penalty kick shootout on Sunday afternoon at ACPHS Athletics Field.
The regular season champion Panthers (12-3-1, 3-0 HVIAC)—who posted an unblemished 3-0 record in league play and held a 5-2 victory in the regular season meeting—scored in the title game’s opening minute with Katie Benson (Clifton Park, N.Y.) finding the back of the net on a nice combo from Erin Tersengo (Webster, N.Y.). The duo would strike again in the 15th minute with Benson chipping a ball that freed up Tersengo for the goal.
SUNY-ESF had a chance to get on the board a minute later but couldn’t convert on their penalty kick attempt as Jagareski stopped Heather Carl (Westerlo, N.Y.). But the Mighty Oaks remained unfazed and continued their offensive pressure—outshooting the Panthers 11-8 in the period and holding a 7-4 edge in corner kicks—and leveled the game before the halftime break. Natalee Wrege (Clinton, N.Y.) put in a cross from Bryony Striffler (Glenville, N.Y.) in the 30th minute and Jessie Smith (Buffalo, N.Y.) dribbled past her defender and scored near post in the 39th minute to bring the 2-2 deadlock.
SUNY-ESF continued to apply pressure for the remainder of the contest and outshot the Panthers 35-15 but it was the strength of Jagareski, who made 16 saves, including five in the overtime sessions, which kept the game tied at 2-2.
At the end of the first overtime period, Wrege appeared to score the championship-winning goal for the Mighty Oaks, but the ball was ruled into the net just after time expired.
In the penalty kick shootout with ESF shooting first, the first six shooters all converted on their attempts to remain tied at 3-3. Wrege then missed high leaving the door open for the Panthers and after Brittany Fuller (Whitney Point, N.Y.) converted on ACPHS’s fourth attempt, with the shootout tied 4-4, Rebecca Foote (Arcade, N.Y.) buried her attempt to give the Panthers their fourth tournament championship in the first overtime championship game in league history.
Both Albany Pharmacy and SUNY-ESF advanced to the championship with convincing semifinal wins. ESF bypassed No. 3 King’s (2-5, 1-2 HVIAC) by a 6-0 margin while the Panthers defeated No. 4 Berkeley (0-5, 0-3 HVIAC), 9-0.
Ranked in the top five in the latest United States Coaches Association Coaches’ Polls, No. 2 SUNY-ESF and No. 4 Albany Pharmacy will await receiving at large bids to the 2015 USCAA National Soccer Championships from Nov. 4-7 in Asheville, N.C. The full championship field will be announced tomorrow on TheUSCAA.com
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2015 HVIAC Women's Soccer Championships
Semifinals - Saturday, October 24
#2 SUNY-ESF def. #3 King's, 6-0 | Box
#1 Albany Pharmacy def. #4 Berkeley, 9-0 | Box
Championship - Sunday, October 25
#1 Albany Pharmacy tied #2 SUNY-ESF, 2-2 | Box
Panthers win HVIAC Tournament Championship on penalty kick shootout, 5-4
Tournament MVP
Amy Jagareski | Albany Pharmacy | Jr. | Goalkeeper | South Glens Falls, N.Y.
Tournament & Regular Season Champions
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Tournament Runner-Up
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
