Box Score

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RADNOR, Pa. – In what has to be one of the most exciting Colonial States Athletic Conference championship games in recent history, the Cabrini women's soccer team  claimed its second consecutive conference championship and  third title in the last four years, topping Gwynedd-Mercy 5-4 in a penalty kick shootout.

"What a game.  Both teams absolutely left it all on the field," said Cabrini head coach Ken Prothero.  "Gwynedd-Mercy played extremely well.  Meghan Bojanowski put so much pressure on our defense.  Thankfully, our defense was up to the test and Maddy Edwards was at her best.  We have come so far since we started this journey back in August.  I couldn't be more proud of our team."     

While the score sheets remained clean, there was no shortage of scoring chances or excitement.  In the 11th minute, Gwynedd-Mercy's Kerri Petroski fired a header at Cabrini's net from inside the six yard box. Cabrini's senior goalkeeper Maddy Edwards was in the perfect spot as the ball bounced into her arms.  

Fifteen minutes later, the Griffins' Michelle Pool had a picture perfect scoring chance.  As she fired the shot, Edwards dove to her right making an incredible save to keep Gwynedd-Mercy out of the goal.  Seconds later, Gwynedd-Mercy's Meghan Bojanowski rocketed a shot that bounced off the cross bar and down to the ground, never crossing the goal line.

The Griffins outshot Cabrini 8-4 in the opening stanza and attempted five corner kicks but Edwards' four saves kept the score sheet clean.  Gwynedd-Mercy goaltender Jessica Tadley matched Edwards' effort posting a pair of saves in the first half.

Both teams fought to find their scoring combination after the break.  The action went end to end, each club trying to gain some type of advantage.  The Griffins turned their pressure into four second half corner kicks but Cabrini's defensive efforts held them to just three shots, one on goal.

Conversely, the Blue and White continued to fire away, recording seven shots after the break.  Tadley always seemed to be in the right spot as she recorded four second half saves, including a pair in the final five minutes of regulation, to keep the match scoreless.

The teams were no stranger to overtime, as they combined to go to extra periods eight times this season.  But none of their previous occasions had a conference title on the line.

The Cavaliers created several scoring chances in the extra 20 minutes, recording five shots while keeping the Griffins out of the shot column.  After battling through 110 minutes of action, the CSAC title would come down to penalty kicks.

The last time the Cavaliers went to a shootout was in the semifinal round of the 2010 CSAC Tournament.  The marathon shootout went 26 shooters, with the Blue and White on the short end, as Immaculata advanced to the championship match.  Cabrini was determined to make this different.

Cabrini's Dana Drake and Gwynedd-Mercy's Maura Gifford found the net in the first round, but Gwynedd-Mercy grabbed a 2-1 lead in the second round on Christine Michalski's shot.  The Griffins maintained their advantage after Melissa Scanzano and Casey Gaughan were successful.  

After both clubs missed in the fourth round, Cabrini's hopes rested on the foot of junior Bree Thompson and she came through, calmly placing the ball in the upper left corner.  Gwyedd-Mercy had a penalty shot to win the championship, but could not finish the deal, sending the shootout to extra shooters.  

Cabrini junior Lauren Pallister and Gwynedd-Mercy's Megan Gifford found the net to keep the match alive.  Next up for the Cavaliers was Edwards.  The former field player fired the ball into the net, giving the Cavaliers their first advantage since Drake's first shot.  Tadley stepped to the spot with a chance to further extend the match, but Edwards won the goalkeeper battle, sending the Cavaliers sprinting onto the field in celebration.

Edwards was named CSAC Championship Game Most Valuable Player after recording five saves and scoring the title winning penalty shot.

The Cavaliers recorded eight shots on goal to the Griffins's five.  Freshman Nicole Hallinan lead the Blue and White with two of the eight. 

With the win, the Blue and White also secure the CSAC's automatic bid to the 2012 NCAA Tournament.  The Cavaliers will learn details of their fourth NCAA appearance during Monday's NCAA Selection Show, scheduled for Monday at 1:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.