HYDE PARK, N.Y.—Sarah Cope (Broadalbin, N.Y.) netted three goals and added an assist to power the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences women's soccer team to a 5-2 victory over The King's College in the championship game of the 2014 Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament on a chilly and blustery Sunday afternoon at the Culinary Institute soccer field.
Cope scored the first three goals for the Panthers (11-4, 4-0 HVIAC) and was recognized with Tournament MVP honors. The senior striker got the undefeated regular season champions on the board quickly, scoring just 4:46 into the contest dribbling around the keeping and sliding it into the net.
Aleena Cruz (Chula Vista, Calif.) knotted the game for the Lady Lions (9-5, 3-1 HVIAC) at 1-1 in the 20th minute with a chip shot that hit the bottom of the crossbar and landed just past the goal line, but Cope responded two minutes later taking a through ball from Katie Parsels (Rochechester, N.Y.), her one-touch shot initially saved but got her own rebound and placed it into the back of the net, giving the Panthers a 2-1 halftime lead.
Cope and Parsels teamed up again early in the second stanza for the eventual game-winner, Parsels setting up a Cope shot high over the goalie just four minutes into the half. Parsels added an insurance goal in the 58th minute burying a direct free kick just yards outside the penalty box. The Panthers built a decisive 5-1 lead on a Kayli Smith (Rome, N.Y.) goal before the King's cut the deficit to 5-2 after Caitlin Essex (Phnom Pehh, Cambodia) stole the ball from the defense and snuck it inside the right post, capping the game's scoring.
The defending HVIAC champions controlled play for much of the rematch of last year's championship and limited the Lions scoring opportunities, maintaining a 23-7 shot advantage and allowing just three shots on goal.
The Panthers head to the USCAA National Championships this week in West Virginia. For more information contact, Bill Jabour, Sports Information Coordinator or visit acphsathletics.com.
