READING, Pa. - The top two sides advance in the United East Women’s Soccer Championship as the two semifinal matches were completed in Reading, Pa. Friday afternoon. Top-seeded Penn State Berks took down No. 4 St. Mary’s College of Maryland, 3-1, in the first tilt of the day while second-seeded Penn State Harrisburg dropped No. 3 Penn College, 3-2, in the second contest.
Berks and Harrisburg will square off in the United East Championship Final, which is a rematch from just a year ago. That game will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday right back on the campus of Penn State Berks.
Game 1:
Penn State Berks - 3
St. Mary’s College - 1
Berks got off to an early lead as they scored just 2:36 into the contest. The Freshman of the Year, Diana Pon, found the Offensive Player of the Year, Emily Clapper, in the box on a cross and Clapper was able to slip it past the keeper. The score would remain tied going into halftime.
Coming out of the break, the Nittany Lions doubled their score just over four minutes in. Sara Hathaway sent a through ball into Pon, who in turn beat the netminder far post. The favor was then returned as a Pon pass over the defense sprung Hathaway who netted the ball just over 15 minutes later. The Seahawks were able to get one on the board in the final minutes courtesy of Julia Kleine but the comeback bid was too far gone.
The Nittany Lions peppered the St. Mary’s College keeper all game as Audra Haines finished with six stops. Sophia Gonzalez ended with a single save for Penn State Berks.
Game 2:
Penn State Harrisburg - 3
Penn College - 2
Harrisburg got out to a big lead as the Lions were up 3-0 on the Wildcats. Sydney Armstrong got the movement going as she headed away a Makayla Weber free kick with just under four minutes to go in the half. Harrisburg then added another just minutes into the second half courtesy of Kyla Brossoit. Isabelle Toni sent a low cross into the box that was tapped forward by Serenity Hill and eventually finished by Brossoit. The lead was then taken to 3-0 off another Lions set piece. Weber crossed the ball into the far post and it was headed towards the top of the box by Hannah Wheeler. Abigail Frew was there to strike it past the keeper to give Harrisburg the sizable lead.
The Wildcats were determined to pose a comeback though, scoring in the 69th minute. Cassie Johnson sent a long pass to Sara Darlington in the offensive zone where she was able to hold off her defender long enough to get a shot by the Lions keeper. Penn College then got within one in the 84th minute after Darlington collected a misplayed ball in the offensive half and shot a low ball that beat the netminder to the left side.
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The United East has nine NCAA Division III member institutions which include: Gallaudet University, Lancaster Bible College, Morrisville State, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Harrisburg, St. Mary's College of Maryland and Wells College. The United East also includes three associate members in the sport of men’s golf including Clarks Summit University, Rosemont College, Rutgers University – Camden and Wilson College. Clarks Summit University is also an associate member in the sport of men’s tennis. The United East has also partnered with the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference in the sports of men's and women's lacrosse. For more information, please visit: gounitedeast.com