The eventual game-winning goal came in the 73rd minute when Lindsay O'Keefe got behind the Scranton defense thanks to a pinpoint outlet pass from Ava Garay, and she beat keeper Amanda Steinberg low to give TCNJ a 2-1 lead. Just two minutes later, Gianna Coppola capped a strong afternoon with a fitting reward as she also beat Steinberg to add an insurance tally. The goal came on her third shot, all of which were legitimate scoring chances.
The two goals capped a strong second half for the powerful TCNJ attack. The Lions outshot Scranton in the second half while controlling the vast majority of play. The lopsided second half came after an evenly played first half, one where each team had several opportunities and a goal.
Scranton tested Alexandra Panasuk early when Niamh Healy hit one low that Panasuk made a diving save to her right just 1:09 into play. She finished with three saves. A few minutes later, a Scranton free kick sailed high.
TCNJ got into the offensive action 10 minutes into play when Nikki Butler ripped a shot wide left after the Lions methodically moved the ball forward with several pinpoint passes.
Scranton scored first in the 19th minute when Healy took advantage of a TCNJ giveaway in its own defensive end. That led to a 1-on-1 opportunity and a strong shot to the upper left corner, beating Panasuk.
The Scranton lead didn't last long, though. Butler took a pass from Julia Obst on the right side and beat Steinberg to the far side to even the match at 1-1. Butler tied Coppola for the team lead with three shots.
TCNJ had a couple of opportunities in the final 10 minutes of the half to take the lead. Coppola whistled one that beat Steinberg, but the shot grazed the outside of the right post. A couple of minutes later, Amelia Curtis hit a sinking shot that Steinberg struggled to handle, resulting in a corner kick. Curtis' entry into the box led to a contested header by Sofia Alves, but the ball frittered wide.
The Lions increased the pressure in the second half. Coppola took on six Scranton defenders, helping the ball find Garay on the left side with a quality chance in the 52nd minute. Her shot struck the left post and bounded out of play. Shortly thereafter, Obst centered a pass that didn't connect with a streaking Sophie Vieira, but still went down as a strong scoring chance.
A misplay on an entry pass by Steinberg led to a TCNJ corner in the 61st minute. Curtis' corner kick went to the far post, but Steinberg punched it out of harm's way before Butler managed to get her head on it.
Ava Curtis had a free kick from 30 yards out that looked like it would sneak under the crossbar in the 69th minute, but Steinberg managed to get an outstretched hand on it, deflecting it away.
All of the pressure finally culminated in O'Keefe's game-winner and Coppola's insurance goal.
The Lions move into the Elite 8 on Sunday at 3 p.m. against William Smith.
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November 21, 2021 at 03:54AM
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Women's Soccer Defeats Scranton, Heads to Elite 8 - The College of New Jersey Athletics - The College of New Jersey Athletics
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