(WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.) – Another historic season came to a close as Wilson fell to Penn in the United East Championship quarterfinals on Saturday afternoon. The No. 7 Phoenix played well in the first half as they looked to score a revenge win, but the No. 2 Wildcats got stronger as the game went on and pulled away with a high-octane offense in the second.
The Basics
Score: No. 7 Wilson 1, No. 2 Penn 5
Venue: UPMC Field
Records: Wilson 13-4-2, Penn 15-0-4
How It Happened
- Both defenses started the game off strong by turning aside multiple early chances by the other side. That changed in the 33rd minute as Penn took advantage of a corner kick. Makayla Bucks sent in the ball from the right side and Cassie Johnson was able to head it inside the far post for the score.
- The Wildcats held that lead through the halftime break. The momentum remained and they were quick to add to the lead in the second half as the nation's leading scorer Megan Kurian scored 8:16 into the frame.
- Wilson eventually got on the board when Halley Shaffer (Jr., Sunbury, Pa. / Line Mountain) found the back of the net in the 70th minute. After she received a long pass, she was able to race by a pair of defenders and put enough force on the kick to get it by Penn's goalkeeper.
- Unfortunately for the Phoenix, the Wildcats were able to answer five minutes later on a kick to the upper right 90 by Kathryn Dunn. Brooke Klinger scored in the 79th minute and Johnson added her second goal in the 87th to close the scoring.
Inside The Numbers
- Shots favored the Wildcats by a 16-9 count overall, but shots on goal were more balanced with the hosts holding a 7-6 edge.
- Shaffer's goal was her 18th of the season. It's second-best mark for most goals in a single season behind herself after she scored 20 last year.
