The University of Mary Washington women's soccer team will continue to dance after it took down Penn State-Harrisburg on Saturday afternoon in Middlebury, VT., 2-1. With the victory, the Eagles advance to the national quarterfinals for the first time since 2004.
For the Eagles, Sunday will mark the sixth time in program history the team has reached the national quarterfinals as they'll take on No. 3 Tufts at 1 p.m. in Middlebury, VT. But to reach the Elite Eight, UMW had to go through Penn State-Harrisburg -- a team the Eagles were familiar with already.
The Eagles and Lions had played each other once already this season -- UMW had already come away with a 1-0 win at the end of August in Fredericksburg -- and wearing the same blue kits with white socks they wore back in August, UMW had few issues against PSH in Vermont in the cold on Saturday.
From the get-go, Mary Washington was in control and that was evident in the first 20 minutes of the match when the team netted its first goal of the afternoon. In the 20th minute,
Cassidy Shaw received a pass from the backline as forward
Taylor Garofalo was able to free herself from a Lion defender at the top of the box. Standing in the middle of the attacking end, Shaw found Garofalo deep in the box as Garofalo beat a pair of PSH defenders to net the game's first goal.
The Eagles took that 1-0 lead into the half even with Penn State-Harrisburg coming away with an advantage in shots, 7-4. Keeper
Kate Ronzoni, who made first postseason debut on Saturday, came away with a pair of saves in the first half. With a few Lions free in the box in the 27th minute, Ronzoni made a critical save to hold the Lions scoreless.
In the second half, came out firing once again as
Layla Royster was able to get herself free of a PSH defender before
Skye Lawhun found Royster, who netted her second goal of the postseason and UMW's second goal on Saturday that proved to be the difference in the victory. The Lions netted their first goal in the 75th minute, but it was too little too late -- even with a corner kick in the final few minutes -- it was UMW who advanced to the next round.
For the game, Mary Washington trailed in shots, 10-8, but came away with the victory and led in corners, 7-1.
The Eagles are back in action on Sunday against No. 3 Tufts. First touch in Middlebury, VT is set for 1 p.m. with a bid to the national semifinals on the line. Eagle fans who aren't in Vermont can enjoy the game virtually on UMWEagles.com
