Women's soccer falls short of PAC goal

by Cynthia Taura and Paul Moser staff writer and sports editor

The Lady Cavaliers entered the PAC playoffs with the goal of winning it all, but, realistically, were not expected to make it out of the first round

After all, they had barely scraped their way into the four-team playoff competition with a 4-2 record and were playing a team that they had previously never beaten in the first round.

'nle Lady Cavaliers started off the season poorly but put on the heat midway through the season to enter the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference playoffs seeded third in this, the first year that the PAC had instituted the playoff system.

In years past, the first place team was given the award based on regular season record.

This year the Lady Cavs, who finished the regular season in third place, still had a shot to win it all in the PAC playoffs.

The Lady Cavaliers started their playoff run by squeaking out a victory over second-seeded Misericordia, who the Lady Cavaliers had never beaten before, in the semifinal round in a 2-1 upset victory.

Cabrini was down 1-0 with seven min- utes left to play when they pulled out in front on two quick goals.

Junior Erin Barney scored on a comer kick to tie the game. That set up the game winner for junior Meghan Myers.

The Lady Cavs then played solid defense to end the game.

Cabrini had finished the first part of its goal, defeating Misericordia. It was now time for them to go on to different business-the championship game.

Cabrini would not have an easy time at winning the PAC, though, since Beaver was the No. 1 ranked team going into the playoffs and it was their game to lose at home.

The Lady Cavaliers fell down early, but Myers tied the game by the end of regulation at 1-1.

However, when the overtime period had expired, it was Beaver College coming out on top by a score of 3- l.

The rules for a playoff game overtime are different then they are for the season.

In a playoff overtime, instead of the rules being sudden death, the teams are allowed to play until the end of the overtime period, in this case, the Lady Cavaliers let up two goals in the overtime period.

After the game, the players were disap- pointed, yet they were happy to be in the position they were.

"We can not be unhappy with this finish," Barney said. "Beaver was a really good team."

Many players interviewed agreed with that sentiment.

"We are disappointed with losing but we are happy finishing second," sophomore Karin Hale said.

The Lady Cavaliers fin-

PAC finals. ished second in the PAC, a feat they had accomplished last year, giving them something to build on for next year.

The Lady Cavaliers will be returning all of their players next year and hope to finish first next year for the first time.