Widener Survive Double Overtime at Alvernia to Set Up a Trip to Top Seed York
Widener refused to go home on Monday, and Alvernia will be wondering how they let this one slip.
The MAC Commonwealth play-in at Chester finished Widener 2-1 after double overtime, and it took until the 72nd minute for the Pride to finally settle it. Alvernia had the better of the numbers all afternoon, 23 shots to Widener’s far fewer, 10 on goal, and three penalty corners in the opening period alone. But Widener’s defence held, and in a knockout game that is sometimes all you need.
Widener struck first, breaking through in the 44th minute to lead 1-0 going into the final quarter. Alvernia hit back quickly. Carley Mackert scored off a penalty corner, assisted by Sofia Mollura, to make it 1-1, and with a minute left the Golden Wolves nearly won it outright, only for the Widener goalkeeper to turn away a chance from Ava Michael.
Overtime solved nothing at first. Widener came out attacking, Alvernia answered with four chances of their own, including a good look for Hadley Lewicki that was kept out. Then the second overtime turned. Widener camped in Alvernia’s half, earned three corners in a row, and converted the third in the 72nd minute to win it.
That sends fourth seed Widener on to the semi-finals on Wednesday 4 November, away at top seed York, while third seed Messiah visit second seed and defending champions Stevenson in the other semi-final. The final is on Saturday 7 November at the highest remaining seed, and the winner takes the conference’s automatic NCAA Division III bid. For Alvernia, the season ends at 8-9 overall, a tough way to finish a first season under head coach Cody Savitsky in which they still made the tournament.
Widener’s reward for surviving is the hardest draw in the bracket. York finished 7-1 in conference play alongside Stevenson and Messiah. But after winning a game like Monday’s, Widener won’t be arriving in York short of belief.
