READING, Pa. – The Penn State Berks Nittany Lions claimed their third straight North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Championship after defeating Penn State Abington 3-0 in the finals Sunday. 

The Nittany Lions (16-2-2) will now head to the NCAA Women’s Soccer Division III Tournament for the third straight season.  They will learn their opponent on the NCAA’s live selection show, which can viewed on Monday, November 9 at 1pm here.  

The Nittany Lions (16-2-2) tallied the first goal of the game early in the first half and took some momentum into the intermission with a score in the 42nd minute of the opening period. Berks then built a comfortable lead with 6:17 into the second half and were able to drop back and play defensive.

Senior Ellie McKinstry (New City, N.Y.), who was named the Tournament MVP, beat the keeper to a loose ball outside of the box and was able to send a shot into the wide open net at the 6:50 mark.  Junior Brennan Moyer (Wyomissing, Pa.) earned the assist after she sent a deep pass into Abington territory and the spin made the ball bounce away from the defenders.

Junior Dana Sarcinello (Downingtown, Pa.) had a shot knocked out of bounds by the diving goalkeeper to give Berks a corner kick late in the first half. Freshman Alexa Lopez (East Windsor, N.J.) delivered a perfect insert that junior Lizzie Mummau (Mount Joy, Pa.) was able to knock into the wide open far corner with just over three minutes left in the half.

Early in the second half, Abington was aggressive and able to spend most of its time on the offensive end of the field. With Abington attacking, Moyer was able to clear the ball out and deep into Abington territory where Berks had numbers. Mckinstry took a few touches before passing to Mummau, who then beat the keeper with a line drive into the far back corner for her second goal of the game. 

Berks had a 15-4 advantage on shots and held a 5-2 margin on corner kicks.

The suffocating play on defense by Moyer, senior Caitlin Deibler (Jamison, Pa.), sophomore Shelby Baker (Mount Laurel, N.J.) and junior Paige Clawser (Mifflinburg, Pa.) did not allow a single shot on goal by Abington. Freshman Paige Elmy (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) came out of goal to pick up a number of deep passes into the Berks territory.

Freshman goalkeeper Samantha Friend (Philadelphia, Pa.) finished with four saves for Abington (14-5), including two athletic diving stops.

*Release and photos courtesy of Penn State Berks Sports Information Director Tyler Schueck

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The North Eastern Athletic Conference has fourteen NCAA Division III member institutions which include: Bryn Athyn College, Cazenovia College, College of St. Elizabeth, Gallaudet University, Keuka College, Lancaster Bible College, Pennsylvania College of Technology, Pennsylvania State University - Abington, Pennsylvania State University - Berks, SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY Morrisville State College, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Wells College, and Wilson College.  Associate members are: Cedar Crest College (W Swimming), D’Youville College (M Volleyball), Hilbert College (M Lacrosse & M Volleyball), Medaille College (M&W Lacrosse & M Volleyball), Penn State Altoona (M Volleyball) and Rutgers University - Camden (M Golf).  The North Eastern Athletic Conference has partnered with the North Atlantic Conference in the sports of field hockey and men’s and women’s tennis.