Women's Soccer Falls to Campbell 1-0 to End Season

Women's Soccer VMIKeydets.com

High Point Squeaks by Keydets in Overtime, 1-0

HIGH POINT, N.C. –  Amanda Berrios made 13 saves, but High Point's Sammy Vercellino scored on a rebound 6:37 into overtime, sending the homestanding Panthers over the VMI Keydets, 1-0, in Big South women's soccer action Saturday night in High Point, N.C.

6:21 into the extra frame, HPU's Kate Harris put a shot towards Berrios that the VMI (3-11-2, 0-7-1 Big South) keeper stopped, but the ball came loose in the box. Vercellino took advantage, putting the ball by Berrios for the game winner.

The 13 saves for Berrios were one short of her career high, and marked her fifth double-digit save games of the season. She helped the Keydet defense handle a 32-shot barrage from HPU (7-8-3, 5-1-2 Big South) as the Panthers outshot VMI 32-3.

HPU had 15 shots in the opening period, with several quality chances being turned aside by Berrios. In the 23rd minute, Kelli Joline had a shot blocked, but Vercellino had a follow-up try off the loose ball that Berrios was able to grab, keeping the match scoreless.

A similar scenario took place in the 33rd minute, when Joline was stopped by Berrios at 32:09. Just 22 seconds later, Sarah Sermonet had a shot on goal as well, but was turned aside as well. The Keydets had their best chance in the final minute of the half, when Sarah Strand had a header go wide off a Liz Affronti corner. That would be the final shot of the opening half, as the contest was scoreless after 45 minutes.

Berrios opened the second half by making three saves in the first 7:48, and those would mark the only shots on goal until VMI had its first of the night nearly 29 minutes later, when a Christina Gontarski try was stopped by HPU keeper Andrea Ritchie in the 82nd minute. The Keydets earned a corner kick moments later, and it led to their best shot of the match, when a Strand shot hit the crossbar and bounced away.

HPU counterattacked with a Becca Hemby header at 82:37, which Berrios stopped to keep the match scoreless. Hemby tested Berrios again in the 86th minute unsuccessfully, and also had regulation time's final attempt, a wide shot in the 89th minute. That would send the match to overtime scoreless, despite 29 High Point shots in the first two periods.

The Panthers opened the overtime with a shot attempt in the opening minute, one that was wide. The teams then settled into midfield play for nearly five minutes, until the Keydets were called for an offsides violation at 95:15. That gave HPU possession, and set the stage for Harris' shot and Vercellino's game-winning goal one minute later.

Despite its edge in shots, HPU had only four corner kicks on the night to two for VMI, while 14 total fouls were called in the match, eight on the Panthers and six on VMI.

VMI women's soccer will return to action Tuesday, playing host to Radford on the program's senior day. Action will get underway at 3 p.m., with the program's four seniors scheduled to be honored before the game.

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Players Mentioned

Liz Affronti

#17 Liz Affronti

M/F
5' 5"
Freshman
Amanda Berrios

#16 Amanda Berrios

F/GK
5' 7"
Senior
Christina Gontarski

#14 Christina Gontarski

D
5' 5"
Senior
Sarah Strand

#10 Sarah Strand

MF
5' 9"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Liz Affronti

#17 Liz Affronti

5' 5"
Freshman
M/F
Amanda Berrios

#16 Amanda Berrios

5' 7"
Senior
F/GK
Christina Gontarski

#14 Christina Gontarski

5' 5"
Senior
D
Sarah Strand

#10 Sarah Strand

5' 9"
Senior
MF