Grantham, PA – Capital University took a dramatic shootout decision over Gettysburg College on Saturday to advance in the Second Round of the NCAA Championships Tournament. The Crusaders will take on host Messiah College on Sunday at 5:00 p.m.
Capital and Gettysburg battled through an end-to-end contest for 110 minutes before entering penalty kicks. Gettysburg made their first three attempts, and Capital kept pace until Jackie Kelly's shot was saved in the third round. After another tally by each team, the Bullets' Meg Castranova saw her shot saved to even the sore at 4-4.
The shootout eventually moved to the sixth round, where Cailin DiGiacomo missed over the crossbar for Gettysburg. With a trip to the Second Round on the line, Maura Fortino put through her shot for the Capitals.
The exciting finish was long in the making, as both teams traded chances in the regulation and overtime minutes. In the 69th minute Lauren Schapiro found a great opportunity for Gettysburg as she attacked into the box on the left side. Her sliding shot was saved on the six by keeper Kim Leitch.
With less than six minutes to play in regulation the Crusaders almost put one through, but Bullets keeper Eliza Gray grabbed a bounding cross out of the air before Ashleigh Schmittle could get her head to it.
In the extra sessions, Gettysburg came inches from a game-winning goal off the foot of Julia Ramsey. With the clock hitting five seconds to play in first OT, Ramsey let a shot fly from 30 yards out in the midfield. Leitch moved backward to grab the ball only to see it hit off the underside of the crossbar and bounce away from the goal as the horn sounded.
The Crusaders capitalized on the fortune to play into the shootout and eventually move past the Bullets.
Capital (17-5-1) will now play host Messiah College on Sunday at 5:00 p.m. The Falcons won earlier in the day, 5-0 over Brooklyn. The winner will advance to next weekend's Regional Semifinals.
