Mid-Atlantic Conference Final
SJEB FC  3-5  (AET)  PA CLASSICS

 

Pulling off one of the most incredible comebacks in the 27-year history of the Women’s Premier Soccer league, PA Classics scored five unanswered goals to win the Mid-Atlantic Conference Final 5-3 over SJEB FC at Rowen University in Glassboro, N.J. 

 

With 19 minute to play it looked all but over. SJEB enjoyed what is normally a comfortable three-goal cushion after Olivia McMaster (Manhattan University 2023- ) tallied a brace, scoring in the 11th and 14th minutes to put the hosts up 2-0. Olivia Brocious (Drexel University 2023- ) made it 3-0 for SJEB in the 57th minute, and from there it was up to SJEB to see out the game. 

 

Then SJEB goalkeeper, Madison Wessell (Longwood University 2024- ), who up until that moment had played flawlessly, took a poor touch from a back pass from Cierra Penny (University of Rhode Island 2022- ), playing the ball into the path of Elizabeth Estrada (LaSalle University 2023- ), who finished cooly from seven yards out to make it 3-1 SJEB. 

 

PA Classics made it 2-1 after Isabel Coy (Millersville University was sandwiched by a pair of defenders as she turned to goal to earn a penalty kick in the 80th minute. Liza Suydam (Monmouth University 2023- ) blasted the spot kick past Wessell to make it 3-2. 

 

After SJEB weathered the last ten minutes of regulation and all but the last few seconds of added time, it looked like PA Classics were going to come up just short until Estrada ran onto a long clearance and beat two defenders in the box before slotting the ball inside the far post to pull the game level at three in the fifth and final minute of stoppage time. 

 

PA Classics picked right up where it left off in the first minute of extra time when Lindsey Husic (Monmouth University 2023- ) snuck in at the far post and cooly finished a cross from Jenna Daveler to put PA Classics up for the first time in the match. 

 

The go-ahead goal seemed to shake something loose in SJEB, who looked more like the side that took a 3-0 lead forcing goalkeeper Hana Wilt (Shepard University 2023- ) into action repeatedly over the next ten minutes. 

 

In the 111th minute, Eva Sprewell (Stony Brook University 2024- ) clanked a shot from the right flank off the cross bar. McMaster put the ball back past the diving Wilt, but the goal was called back after the assistant referee called McMaster offside, negating the equalizer and McMaster’s hat trick. 

 

Estrada picked up her hat trick in the 116th minute after intercepting a hurried goal kick, beating a defender, and dribbling Wessel to put the game away for good. 

 

With the win PA Classics advance to the East Region Playoffs Saturday July 12 and 13 at Niagara University in Niagara Falls, N.Y. 

 

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SJEB FC: 3
PA CLASSICS 5
(AET)

 

SJEB FC: Abby Bishara, Adrianna Pepe, Danielle Stuart, Eva Sprewell, Kennedy Erdman, Madison Wessel, Naomi Nnewihe, Olivia Brocious, Olivia MCMaster, Remi Cherkas, Sienna Mount,.

Substitutes: Annabella Ramirez, Cierra Penny, Kayla D'Ottaviano, Sara Wiedeman.

 

 

PA Classics: Carly Keene, Elizabeth Estrada, Hannah Wilt, Jailene DeJesus, Jenna Daveler, Jordan Nguyen, Katelyn Economopoulos, Liza Suydam, Madison Herb, Maggie Groh, Melanie Love.

Substitutes: Ava Shappell, Isabel Coy, Lindsey Husic.

 

Rowan University Soccer Stadium

Glassboro, N.J. 

 

1-0: Olivia McMaster 11’

2-0: Olivia McMaster 14’

3-0: Olivia Brocious 57’

3-1: Elizabeth Estrada 72’

3-2: Liza Suydam (PK) 80’

3-3: Lindsey Husic 90+5’

3-4: Elizabeth Estrada 96’

3-5: Elizabeth Estrada 117’