Frostburg, MD – The Golden Eagles traveled to Maryland to take on Frostburg State, the No. 1 seed in the MEC North Division, in the MEC Tournament Quarterfinals. After 110 minutes of scoreless soccer, Charleston fell to the Bobcats in a penalty shootout, 6-5.
The Basics
- Location: Bobcat Stadium
- Final Score: UC 0 (5), FSU 0 (6)
- Records: Charleston (6-7-6, 6-5-5 MEC), Frostburg State (14-2-3, 13-1-2 MEC)
How It Happened
Frostburg State recorded the first shot of the game in the fifth minute. Following a cross from the right side, a Bobcats attacker attempted a first-time finish, but Ines Degli Esposti reacted quickly, going to ground to collect the ball.
Charleston nearly opened the scoring in the 13th minute. Sydney Crowe sent a long ball down the left side to Li-Lou Debaecker, who beat the goalkeeper to the ball and attempted a toe-poke finish. However, the Frostburg keeper came off her line and made the save before bringing Debaecker down. The Bobcats generated more shots throughout the remainder of the first half, but the Golden Eagles' defense held firm, sending both teams into halftime tied 0-0.
Charleston came out of the break with a huge opportunity to take the lead. Akayla Johnson played the ball to Ciara Casamento, who found Zailee Roberts. Roberts beat a defender before unleashing a powerful shot from approximately 30 yards out that struck the right post and bounced away from goal.
The contest remained tightly contested throughout the second half. In the 83rd minute, Frostburg nearly found the breakthrough following a Charleston defensive turnover. The Bobcats found an attacker behind the defense, who fired a first-time shot. However, Degli Esposti made an outstanding diving save, getting her fingertips to the ball and redirecting it onto the post before gathering it as it bounced back into play.
Neither side was able to find a goal through 90 minutes, sending the match into overtime.
Just one minute into the first overtime period, Frostburg created another opportunity inside the box, but Degli Esposti was there again to make the save. Charleston's only shot of the first overtime period came in the 96th minute, when Jamie Bland attempted a volley but couldn't put it on target.
The second overtime period turned into a battle of endurance, with both teams showing signs of fatigue after more than 100 minutes of play. Neither side managed to register a shot, and after 110 minutes, the match remained scoreless, sending the quarterfinal to a penalty shootout.
Penalty Shootout
Emilía Dís Óskarsdóttir stepped up first for Charleston and converted her attempt. Degli Esposti followed with a save on Frostburg's opening penalty to give the Golden Eagles an early advantage. However, Ciara Casamento sent her attempt wide, and the Bobcats converted their next kick to level the shootout.
Both teams struggled to find the target on their following attempts before Abigail Harrison converted to briefly put Charleston ahead. Frostburg answered to make it 2-2. Li-Lou Debaecker and the Bobcats both converted their next attempts to make it 3-3, before Zailee Roberts and Frostburg's goalkeeper each found the back of the net.
The next two attempts were also converted, bringing the shootout to 5-5. Charleston missed its next penalty, giving Frostburg the opportunity to win it. The Bobcats converted to secure a 6-5 victory in the shootout and advance to the MEC Tournament semifinals.
The Golden Eagles finish their season with a 6-7-6 overall record and a 6-5-5 mark in MEC play.
