Late penalty kick downs Seahawks in ECAC quarterfinals, 2-1

NEWPORT, R.I. – Senior Stacey Rutledge (Meriden, Conn.) scored on a penalty kick with just 5:42 remaining in the second half to spark the Saint Joseph College women's soccer team to a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Salve Regina University during an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship quarterfinal contest at Reynolds Field on Wednesday afternoon.  The Seahawks complete their season at 13-7-1 overall, while the Blue Jays improve to 12-6-2  on the year while advancing to the semifinals.

It was the Seahawks who struck first, jumping on the board just 1:21 into the opening half when freshman Britt Blanchette (Hope, R.I.) fed senior Liz Galla (Beacon Falls, Conn.) who charged down the right side of the box and beat the Blue Jays' goalkeeper to give Salve Regina an early 1-0 advantage.

The Blue Jays nearly tied the score in the 29^th minute when senior Amber White (Bristol, Conn.) redirected a corner kick from sophomore Nicole Mendelson (Southbury, Conn.). White's shot appeared destined for the back of the net, but was turned away by a Salve Regina defender in the box to preserve the one goal lead.

The two teams headed into the intermission with the Seahawks still holding a 1-0 lead, as well as an 11-7 edge in shots and a 3-2 advantage in corners.

Salve Regina's lead held up until the 76^th minute of play when freshman Katie Mirabella (Seymour, Conn.) dribbled into the left side of the box and delivered a beautiful pass to the opposite post, setting up senior Krista Watts (Wolcott, Conn.) for the game-tying score.

The Seahawks threatened to regain the lead less than a minute and a half later when Blanchette found Galla with a pass that led her behind the Blue Jay defense. One-on-one with Saint Joseph goalkeeper Holly Mirabella (Seymour, Conn.), Galla tried to beat her to the left side of the net. However, Mirabella was up to the challenge, making an impressive kick save to keep the game knotted at 1-all.

The game remained tied into the 85^th minute of play when Salve Regina was whistled for a hand-ball in their own box, setting up Rutledge with penalty kick opportunity for Saint Joseph. Rutledge rose to the occasion, scoring to the right side of the net for what turned out to be the game-winning score.

The Blue jays will move on to the ECAC semifinals to play the winner of #2 Keene State and #7 Norwich University on Saturday.