Nov. 9, 2007
Final Stats
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - On Friday night, the Marist women's soccer team knocked off defending MAAC Champion Niagara, 2-1, in a thrilling semifinal match. The Red Foxes got the game winner from sophomore midfielder Katie Zasly (Foster City, Calif.), and advanced to the MAAC Championship game Sunday versus Loyola.
Niagara took the early lead when Christina Langrell put away a Shaylyn Lawrence pass 16 minutes in.
Three minutes later the Red Foxes answered back.
After a Marist cross, Alexandra Lauterborn (Farmingdale, N.Y.) controlled the ball and lofted a perfect shot over the top of Niagara keeper Ashleigh Bowers. Bowers was able to get a finger on it, but not enough to knock it over the cross bar. It was the Lauterborn's third goal of the year, and it tied the score at 1-1.
"I got control and wanted to put it on net. I did and was lucky enough to get the goal," the sophomore said after the win.
The first half ended at 1-1, and the half as a whole was as even as could be. Each team took six shots with Niagara controlling play in the early part of the half, and Marist controlling the action late.
The second half was much of the same with both teams having several great scoring chances. Ashley Chase (Lumberton, N.J.) struck a great shot from the top of the box and banged the crossbar for the Red Foxes. Stephanie Gartley missed a wide open net after a rebound for Niagara.
With fourteen and change on the clock, Zasly got the game winner. The sophomore was able to head in a Keri Koegel free kick for the 2-1 lead.
"Keri made a perfect free kick and I just stepped in front and found the net. It was a perfect ball, and when I saw it I just had to finish," Zasly said after the win.
The win moves Marist to 11-4-3 overall. It is the first time the Red Foxes have ever been to a tournament final that started with four teams (In '01 they advanced to the finals in Orlando when all ten teams were in the tournament).
"We came in ranked sixth in the preseason and used that as motivation. All season we looked at November 11th as a day that we wanted to still be playing, and we are," Lauterborn said after the match.
Allison Lane (Marlton, N.J.) got the win in goal for Marist. She made six saves and improved her record to 8-3-3 on the year.
Marist ended with a 16-15 advantage in shots. Niagara took three corners to the Red Foxes one.
"It was really an incredible match. Both teams gave it everything for the entire 90 minutes. We just made the bigger play and got the win. We've been finding a way all year," Marist Head Coach Elizabeth Roper said.
Marist will play Loyola in the MAAC Tournament Championship on Sunday at noon.
"Loyola is a great team, but we have been getting it done all year. We are on our home field with a chance to do something that this program has never done before. I know we will come out poised and ready," added the Marist coach.
