The women’s soccer team battled Alvernia College to a 3-3 tie in Pennsylvania Athletic Conference action on Wednesday, Oct. 17. The game was the Cavalier’s last on the home field for the season and the last home game of senior Corinne Szymczak’s college career.
A tied first half lead to a thrilling second half as both teams fought until the very end of regulation and beyond. With just 1:22 remaining on the scoreboard, Cabrini held a 3-2 lead, until Alvernia senior Brandi Light unloaded a shot that tied the game and silenced the Cavalier faithful.
Of the three goals scored by Light, this goal seemed to really stun the Cav’s the most, taking away a nearly assured win and forcing overtime.
“It was a great shot,” senior English and communications major Corinne Szymczak said. “There was not a whole lot our keeper could have done.”
The tie did not seem too surprising for Cabrini’s coach.
“Teams are very similar in play and skill level,” head Coach Ken Prothero said. “We are almost the same teams.”
Alvernia reached the net early, just 25 minutes into the game. Light knocked her own rebound via header to score her first goal in the match and put her team up 1-0.
The Cavaliers retaliated with a goal of their own as freshman midfielder Dana Nardello finished a well placed corner kick to even the score.
At halftime the score was 1-1.
Cabrini led the game for the first time with just 25 minutes remaining in regulation but it was short-lived. Sophomore forward Sabina DeGisi scored the Cav’s second goal and less than five minutes later Alvernia’s Light scored her second of the night. It was Nardello’s second goal of the game, a blast from 18 yards out, that seemed as though it would put Cabrini on top for good.
“I was never a goal scorer in high school because I was playing defense,” freshman Dana Nardello said. “It felt great to score twice and help the team out.”
After two overtime periods of ten minutes each, a winner remained undecided.
“The point helps, but not as much as two would have,” coach Ken Prothero said. “The girls played with more heart in the second and we needed to play that way all 90 in order to win this game.”
The girls remained on the field, joined by family and friends to honor their lone senior on her four years of service.
“Szymczak played almost every game all four years but never made a PAC team” Prothero said. “She was a leader on and off the field. It is incredibly sad to see her go.”
Szymczak’s feelings were mutual.
“This is really sad, I cried a bit before the game” Szymczak said. “It would have been great to get a win tonight.”
