ROSEMONT – Wet. Raw. Windy. Stressful. Long. All are adjectives to describe tonight's CSAC women's soccer game played at the Ravens Athletic Complex as the Ravens hosted the Gwynedd Mercy University Griffins under the lights in a game that would end in a 1-1 draw after double overtime. The tie moved Rosemont's overall record to 8-5-3 (5-3-1 CSAC) while the Griffins moved to 9-5-1 (6-1-1 CSAC).
In the first half the Ravens seemed to have the advantage in time of possession. That advantage paid off in the 18th minute when the Griffins were whistled for a foul. Rosemont defender Courtney Whelan lined up to kick the set piece from 35 yards out. Her shot appeared to be stopped by the Gwynedd Mercy keeper, but the wet ball bounded off and the momentum of the shot carried the sphere into the cage to put the Ravens ahead 1-0. That score would hold up to the half.
The Griffins came out with greater intensity for the first 30 minutes of the second half. That intensity eventually resulted in a Gwynedd Mercy opportunity in the 66th minute. Gwynedd's Kerri Petroski kicked a corner for the visitors. After a scrum in front of the net, the ball rebounded out to Petroski deep on the right side of goal, where she kicked the tying score into the left side.
The Ravens rallied and would parry with the Griffins for the remainder of the second half, which ended with the score knotted 1-1.
The teams played through the first overtime without a decision. In the second overtime, the both teams had game-winning opportunities. Rosemont's Haley Philpott had a scoring chance in the 105th minute. After a Gwynedd Mercy foul, Philpott launched a shot from the left side that just skidded past the right post and out of danger. Many in attendance thought the game would be over less than two minutes later when the Griffin's Casey Gaughan controlled the ball between herself and the cage. Gaughan shot the ball from about 15 yards out and it appeared that the Griffins would win in the 107th minute. Lumps were in the throats of Rosemont supporters as they watched the shot ping off of the left post to keep the score tied. Both teams left nothing on the field and the tie seemed a satisfactory ending to the contest.
At halftime the Ravens paid tribute to their graduating seniors, Courtney Whelan, Kerry Hars, Haley Philpott and Alyssa Riegel. It was fitting that Whelan scored the goal for Rosemont and Philpott has perhaps the best shot for the Ravens in the second overtime period.
Rosemont keeper Jenna Kaiser was tremendous in goal, ceding only the one goal with nine saves on a rainy night, trying to keep a wet ball from getting into the frame.
Next up for the Ravens will be the Immaculata University Mighty Macs. It will be the final home game of the regular season for Rosemont. The CSAC contest will start at 4:00pm on Tuesday, 10/28.
