Houghton Loses 2-1 in OT, But Still Advances to NCCAA Semifinals
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- A header in overtime pushed #3 Campbellsville past #4 Houghton, 2-1, at the NCCAA Division I Women's Soccer National Tournament on Wednesday.
Despite the loss, Houghton earned the wild card spot into the tournament semifinals. Houghton held the goal differential tiebreaker over the second place teams in the other two pools.
The Tigers opened the scoring in the eighth minute, but it didn't take long for the Highlanders to respond.
Jessica Beattie (Maitland, Ontario, St. Mary's) took a pass from
Esther Webb (Houghton, NY, Fillmore Central HS) in the 11th minute and tied the score at one.
The rest of the first half was controlled by the Highlanders. Houghton outshot Campbellsville, 12-5, in the half, including five shots on goal. Houghton also had a 5-2 edge in corners.
However, the momentum shifted after the break and the Tigers put pressure on the Highlanders throughout the second 45 minutes. Campbellsville produced numerous scoring opportunities, putting six shots on goal and outshooting Houghton, 9-1, in the half. Keeper
Shawna Sprout (Portville, NY, Portville Central) was up to the task and kept the Tigers off the board, and the game went to extra time. It took the Tigers just 2:10 to get the winner, converting a header past Sprout and sending the Tigers to the semifinals.
Campbellsville (15-8) finished the game with a 15-12 shots advantage and a 9-6 edge in corners.
Sprout stopped seven shots in net.
Houghton (10-8-1) has been re-seeded as the #4 seed in the semifinals and will play top-seeded Grace College on Friday, Dec. 5 at 3:30 p.m. The winner advances to Saturday's championship against the winner of #2 Lee and #3 Campbellsville.
Visit the
tournament website for more information.