DOVER, DE – Francis Marion University and New Jersey Institute of Technology played to a 1-1 tie, but the Highlanders advanced to Sunday’s title match by virtue of a 4-2 win in a penalty kick shootout, Friday afternoon (Oct. 31) at the Division I Independent Schools Tournament.

The match goes into the record books as a tie, moving Francis Marion’s season mark to 3-11-1.  The Patriots will face South Carolina State University in the third-place match on Sunday morning at 11 a.m.  Host Delaware State University defeated the Bulldogs 1-0 in Friday’s other semifinal.

Senior defender Brittney Smith tallied her first goal of 2014 to give Francis Marion an early 1-0 advantage.  The Arkport, N.Y. native corralled the ball at the top of the penalty area and her high shot deflected off the hands of NJIT goalkeeper Karen David and into the goal.  It was Smith’s fourth career score.

The Highlanders answered with the equalizing goal in the 38th minute.  Jaclyn Ward took a pass from Dana Schules and converted on a long 30-yard shot to knot the score at 1-1.

That score remained on the scoreboard through the second half and both 10-minute overtime periods bringing about the first penalty kick shootout in the 20-year history of the FMU program.

NJIT (3-12-2) went first in the shootout and converted on all four of its shots, while seniors Chanel Harris and Sandy Odembo were successful on the Patriots’ first and third attempts.  FMU missed on its second and fourth shots.

Francis Marion led 17-9 in shots, but only two attempts were on frame: Smith’s goal and a shot by Harris in the 94th minute that forced a team save.  FMU also held a 5-4 advantage in corner kicks.

Junior midfielder Arianna Pierner led the Patriots with five shots, while senior Elizabeth Asare attempted four.

FMU junior goalkeeper Taylor O’Berry was credited with three saves, pushing her school-record career total to 296.

 

NJIT (3-12-2) ties Francis Marion Univ. (3-11-1) 1-1 (advances to final on penalty kicks 4-2)

Date: Oct 31, 2014  Attendance: 103

Weather: 54 Degrees/Partly Cloudy

Goals by period          1  2 OT O2  Tot

Francis Marion Univ.  1  0  0  0 -  1

NJIT................              1  0  0  0 -  1

SCORING SUMMARY:

1-0.   7:22 FMU_W Brittney Smith (1) (unassisted) - Controlled ball at top of box. High shot hits GK's hands.

1-1.  37:08 NJIT Jaclyn Ward (1) (Dana Schules) - Pass to #25 from bottom right wing. 30 yards out for the shot.

SHOOTOUT RESULTS:   Francis Marion Univ.: 16/Y 10/N 4/Y 5/N ; NJIT: 16/Y 8/Y 2/Y 19/Y

NJIT wins shootout 4-2

Shots: Francis Marion Univ. 17, NJIT 9 ; Saves: Francis Marion Univ. 3 (Taylor O'Berry 3), NJIT 1 (TEAM 1)