Box Score

Down 1-0 and backed into a corner late in the second half, the John Carroll women's soccer team staged an improbable comeback to force extra time and eventually advance in the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament after winning the battle of penalty kicks.

Heroics came from senior Mackenzie Kenner and sophomore goalkeeper Haley McDonald in crunch time, and the result was a 1-1 tie with JCU moving on to the OAC semifinals courtesy of the 3-2 penalty shootout advantage.

The Blue Streaks were put in a hole in the 38th minute when Natalie Fiorelli of the Crusaders found the back of the net to give third seeded Capital a 1-0 lead.

With inclement weather conditions causing havoc at Bernlohr Stadium, JCU did not attempt a shot in the first half. After intermission, the Blue & Gold had the wind at their backs, peppering Crusader keeper Maggie Donnellan with eight shots, but could not break through.

That is, until Kenner, a defender, knocked in the equalizer in the 89th minute to keep her senior season alive.

In extra time, neither team materalized much offense, as the Streaks led a narrow 3-2 shooting advantage, a number that foreshadowed the penalty kicks.

Haley McDonald dominated the shootout, stepping out the goal to kick John Carroll's first point. After allowing two Crusaders to connect on their tries, McDonald stopped the next three attempts to push the Blue & Gold into the semifinals.

Genny Goergen and Kay Akerly added goals in the shootout to help the cause of the sixth seeded Blue Streaks.

JCU (9-6-4, 4-2-3 OAC) will continue its season on Wednesday, October 31 against second seed Baldwin Wallace University in Berea. The first kick will be at 7:00 p.m.