Box Score Two full periods and two overtime periods weren't enough as the Misericordia University women's soccer team played to a 0-0 draw with defending national champion, Messiah, on Saturday at Mangelsdorf Field.
The tie keeps the No. 7 nationally ranked Cougars unbeaten at 6-0-1 and moves No. 11 Messiah to 5-2-1.
The rematch of the 2012 national semifinal provided drama throughout as both teams had opportunities to score, but neither could cash in thanks to stellar defensive play and goalkeeping.
The Cougars best chance to net the game winner came in the second overtime when junior
Megan Mahoney beat a Messiah defender to the ball, but Falcon keeper Audra Larson stopped the ball just before Mahoney could get a shot off from 20 yards out.
Falcon leading scorer Nikki Elsaesser had more than one chance to win the game for the visitors, hitting the crossbar in the second overtime and with 2:45 left in regulation. She also hit the left post with a header in the 50th minute.
Cougar sophomore keeper
Maureen Ciccosanti faced a barrage of Messiah shots, as the Falcons attempted 34 in total. Ciccosanti, who has been named Freedom Conference Goalkeeper of the Week twice this season, saved all eight shots that went on goal.
However, she also got some help from her teammates on the back end with 13 minutes left in regulation. With Ciccosanti out of the net after making a save on a previous shot, Trisha Tshudy had a wide open look but her shot was blocked by a Cougar defender who cut across the box.
The first half provided a lot of back-and-forth action as the two teams played the ball in the neutral zone for much of the first 20 minutes, frustrating one another by getting in passing lanes and limiting offensive chances. The last 25 minutes saw Messiah begin to take ball control and open it up by utilizing tic-tac-toe passing to generate multiple scoring opportunities. The best chance for an early goal came after a save by a sprawling Ciccosanti with the subsequent rebound attempt rolling just wide.
The Cougars are back in action on Sept. 25 when they travel to Elizabethtown.
