Freshman Sarah Puntel scores twice, but Women's Soccer drops thriller in OAC Tournament finals to Capital in Penalty Kicks
By Tim Glon
BEXLEY — Ohio Northern freshman Sarah Puntel scored twice in a 5:44 span late in the second half, but ultimately Capital would win on penalty kicks in the finals of the Ohio Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Tournament finals on Saturday night at Bernlohr Stadium.
The Polar Bears end their season at 12-7-2, while the Crusaders move to 14-4-1 and receive the OAC's automatic bid into next week's NCAA Division III Tournament.
The two teams battled to a 2-2 tie after 90 minutes of regulation and two 10-minute overtime period to set up the penalty kick scenario.
The match is officially a tie with CU advancing on penalty kicks.
"I am so proud of our players," ONU head coach Mark Batman said. "Not one of our players had been in an OAC final and they kept battling. We got the match to PKs. A freshman scored twice. We kept our composure when things were not going well. The future is bright for this program moving forward."
Puntel tied the match at 1-1 with her first goal at the 73:06 mark on a penalty kick, which was called due to a handball in the penalty box by a Capital defender.
Puntel then gave ONU a 2-1 lead with an unassisted goal with 11:50 left in the match, picking up a loose ball and beating the goal from 15 yards after a nice run through the CU defense.
But the Crusaders would battle back, recording five shots and a corner kick in just over three minutes.
ONU's senior goalie Emily Brodict made several spectacular saves to keep the Polar Bears in the front, but CU's pressure was persistent and Monique Hanayik would tie the match on a point-blank shot off a rebound with just 2:44 left in regulation.
CU would out-shoot Northern 5-0 in the two overtime periods, but Brodict stopped all four shots on goal to keep the match even.
In the penalty kick session, ONU missed first, followed by goals from junior Shelby Stephens, senior Alex Weirich and junior Michaela Gutierrez.
Northern's fifth kick sailed high and CU won the match with its fourth goal of the PK session on its final attempt.
Capital controlled the match in the early going, scoring in the seventh minute and holding an 11-2 advantage in shots in the first half.
The Crusaders out-shot ONU 30-7 in the match. Brodict had 10 saves in goal for Ohio Northern.
