Baltimore, MD –
Kendall Pearage scored in the 89
th minute to lift the Misericordia University women's soccer team over Johns Hopkins, 1-0, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Sunday in Baltimore, MD.
The Cougars advanced to the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in program history to battle Hardin-Simmons in Middlebury, VT.
The first-year midfielder received a
Kaylee Sturans pass from the left side and elevated a shot over the goalkeeper's head for the game-winner. It was Pearage's lone shot attempt and her first touch since re-entering the game in the 87
th minute.
Madison Carlo provided a much-needed spark for the Cougars offense midway through the second half with several offensive rushes.
Carlo's first chance was in the 67
th minute when she ripped a shot toward the goalkeeper from the right side following a pass from center. Moments later, the first-year midfielder wrestled the ball away from a Johns Hopkins defender in the far right corner to reward the Cougars their only corner kick of the game.
Carlo made her presence felt again when she ripped a laser off the crossbar from center in the 77
th minute. The midfielder unleashed the shot from 15-yards out, but fell inches away from giving her squad the lead.
Moments later, the first-year athlete sacrificed her body to make a diving shot attempt after racing the Jays defense to a 50-50 ball. Carlo used her speed to beat the defense to the loose ball on the far right side, but couldn't get enough on the acrobatic attempt.
Alexis Benedetto made several key stops to keep the game knotted 0-0.
In the 61
st minute, Benedetto ranged 10-yards out and made a sliding stop to deny Kristen Hori from attempting a shot following a Jays' breakaway. With Hori racing toward the net, Benedetto successfully challenged the through ball as her defense cleared the ensuing rebound.
Later in the half, she corralled an Emily Maheras free kick from 12-yards out to deny the Jays of a prime scoring chance.
The first half was dominated by the defenses as both teams combined for just four shots. The Jays outshot the Cougars 3-1, but registered just one shot on goal.
Kristen Ritter erased a Johns Hopkins scoring chance in the 24
th minute when she stepped up in the box and cleared the potential threat. The Jays played a through ball into the box, which would have given the team a clear shot at the net, but the MAC Freedom Defensive Player of the Year dissected the play perfectly and intercepted the pass.
In the 36
th minute, Benedetto denied the Jays on their best scoring chance of the half. Emily Maheras ripped a ball to the far post on a breakaway, but was denied as Benedetto dove to her left and deflected the shot out of play.
The All-MAC Freedom first-team selection made another heads-up play in the 45
th minute to defuse a Jays' scoring chance. Benedetto read an incoming cross from 40-yards out, charged outside the box and beat the Johns Hopkins attacker to the loose ball.
Misericordia's best scoring opportunity of the first half was in the 17
th minute when
Jeanna Orfanos attempted the game's first shot. Following a Ritter free kick from beyond midfield, the junior ripped a shot from just inside the box, but had it blocked by a Jay defender.
The Cougars improved to 17-2-1 and will advance to the Sweet 16 to play Hardin-Simmons University. The Cowgirls defeated Puget Sound, 3-0, and Trinity (Texas), 3-0, this weekend to advance in the tournament.
