Senior forward
Erin Tersegno (Webster, NY / Webster Thomas) scored her team-leading 14
th goal of the season today, but it was not enough as #2 ACPHS fell to the #6 seed Penn State-Brandywine Nittany Lions 2-1 in the opening game of pool play at the 2018 USCAA Women's Soccer Division 2 National Championships. The Panthers now stand at 8-6 overall, and now face a must-win game tomorrow when they play the #3 seeded New Hampshire Technical Institute Lynx at 2:30 PM.
Albany got the scoring started in the 10
th minute, when Tersegno took a corner kick from her fellow senior captain
Cora Bruno (Margaretville, NY / Margaretville Central) and deposited it past Nittany Lions keeper Emily Bush. Tersegno was a menace all day putting three of her five shot attempts on target. Albany would protect that lead all the way through the opening 45 minutes, with the defense only allowing one shot to reach sophomore keeper
Gabriella Evangelista (Warwick, NY / Warwick Valley High), which she saved.
Albany finally conceded for the first time in the 48
th minute, when Brandywine's Brianna Banks snuck one past Evangelista off of an assist from teammate Emily Jefferson. Banks wasn't finished, as she scored the game-winner in the 73
rd minute, successfully avenging the Nittany Lions' loss to Albany at last year's national championships. Just after the goal, Tersegno and sophomore
Emily Linehan (Massapequa, NY / Plainedge High) forced keeper Emily Bush into back-to-back saves, but could not find a way back into the game. Albany would keep the pressure on in the closing minutes, but it wasn't enough.
Both teams recorded five shots on goal when it was all said and done, with the Nittany Lions attempting two more shots. Banks' goals were her 25
th and 26
th on the year, which lead the entire USCAA. The Panthers will need to bounce back quickly tomorrow, when they face an NHTI team that they beat 1-0 in Albany earlier in the season. To advance to the championship game, Albany will have to beat NHTI, and then root for New Hampshire to best Brandywine on Sunday. This would give ACP a chance to advance if they end up with the best goal difference in the group. Live stats for tomorrow's game can be found at acphsathletic.com.