GENEVA, NY -- Tiffany Rotatori scored both goals, including the eventual game winner with under eight minutes remaining in regulation, to lift Worcester State to a 2-1 triumph over #16 Union College in an NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Second Round game at Wiliam Smith Sunday.
The Lancers, 16-5, advance to the sectionals to face either Endicott or Western Connecticut State, while Union ends the season with a 16-5 record.
The Dutchwomen dominated the Lancers with a 25-8 shot advantage, but was stopped repeatedly by the play of freshman goalkeeper Erin Doherty. Doherty, who had posted a 2-0 shutout against #5 William Smith Saturday on the Herons' home field, was impressive throughout this contest. She finished with 14 saves, seven in each period. But none was bigger then the stop made off the shot by Allison Cuozzo (Norfolk, MA). Cuozzo had a header with 44 seconds remaining, but Doherty leaped and punched the ball over the crossbar when it looked like it would tuck into the high right corner.
After a scoreless first half, in which Union outshot the Lancers, 11-5, Rotatori gave the Lancers the 10 lead at 55:56. She took a shot from 25 yards out on the right side that was lofted over the defenders and goaltender Melissa McDonald (Lynnfield, MA).
Union had a 14-3 second half shot advantage but finally tied it wiht 8:06 remaining in the second half. Sara Wilson (Wilbraham, MA) fought through a crowd for a loose ball from 16 yards directly out in front to beat Doherty to make it 1-1. But moments later after play resumed at midfield, Rotatori was in the similar location, and shot another high into the right corner. That tally came just 19 seconds after Union had tied it, and the Lancers regained the lead at 2-1.
Doherty made 13 saves while McDonald stopped three, and the Dutchwomen had all 13 corners on the day. Union had six fouls to Worcester State's four fouls.
Katie McLean (Newton, MA) had a game high nine shots, including five on net, while Allison Cuozzo, Caitlin Cuozzo (Norfolk, MA), Chelsea Hargis (East Lyme, CT) and Wilson had three shots each.
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