POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- Loyola College, the defending champions, will take on fourth-seeded Rider University in the title game of the 2002 MAAC Women's Soccer Tournament at Marist College on Sunday, November 11 at noon.
Loyola walked away with a 2-1 victory over Siena. The Greyhounds scored the first goal of the game at the 20:26 mark with Annie DiPalo (E. Northport, NY) netting an unassisted goal from 30 yards out. The Greyhounds then took a 2-0 lead when Naomi Daniels (Huntington, NY) capitalized on a free kick off of Becky Bieneman (Baltimore, MD) and Lindsay Tracey (Simsbury, CT) 36 minutes into the game. Siena got on the scoreboard in the second half, with Erin Beam (Middletown, NY) scoring on a penalty kick at the 68:31 mark, but fell short of tying up the game in the final minutes.
Erica Neimann (Ellicott City, MD) finished the game with two saves for the Greyhounds. Siena's Noel Cox (Uniondale, NY) notched two saves between the pipes for the Saints. Loyola is now 11-5-2 overall, while Siena closed out its season at 5-10-3.
In the first game of the day, Rider defeated Fairfield, 2-1 in double overtime, to make its first-ever MAAC Championship title game. After a scoreless first half, the Broncs got on the board as Sarah Artale (Jackson, NJ) knocked a shot from 15 yards out from Andrea Giuliani (West Deptford, NJ) into the left corner of the net. Lindsey Pulito (Kensington, CT) then scored tied the game at 1-1 on an unassisted shot from 30 yards out from the center of the goal. With the game in its second overtime, Artale ended the game with her sudden victory goal off a pass from Colleen Evans (Bayhead,NJ).
Rider's Erin Wolleon (Bay Head, NJ) registered six saves this afternoon in goal. Fairfield netminder Katie Ely (Schnecksville, PA) recorded eight saves for the Stags. Rider is now 8-12 entering the championship game, while Fairfield concluded its season at 9-7-3 overall.
The winner of the 2002 MAAC Women's Soccer Tournament will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Tournament.
Game 1: 1st 2nd 1St OT 2nd OT FinalRider (8-12, 5-4 MAAC) 0 1 0 1 2Fairfrield (9-7-3, 8-0-1 MAAC) 0 1 0 0 1Scoring: Rider - Sarah Artale (Andrea Giuliani) 61:30, Artale (Colleen Evans) 103:35; Fairfield - Lindsey Pulito (unassisted) 75:56Saves: Fairfield - Katie Ely 8; Rider - Erin Wolleon 6Shots: Rider 12, Fairfield 11Corner Kicks: Fairfield 6, Rider 1Fouls: Rider 17, Fairfield 6Game 2: 1st 2nd FinalSiena (5-10-3, 5-3-1 MAAC) 0 1 1Loyola (11-5-2, 7-0-2 MAAC) 2 0 2Scoring: Loyola - Annie DiPalo (unassisted) 20:26, Naomi Daniels (Becky Bieneman and Lindsay Tracey) 36:17; Siena - Erin Beam (penalty kick) 68:31Saves: Loyola - Erica Niemann 2; Siena - Noel Cox 2Shots: Loyola 9, Siena 5Corner Kicks: Loyola 2, Siena 0Fouls: Loyola 12, Siena 10Yellow Cards: Loyola - Sarah Raab (57:50), Becky Bieneman (83:29); Siena - Megan Mones (83:29)