Box Score PHILADELPHIA – No. 7 seed Felician University scored twice in the span of two minutes, 41 seconds, to break a 1-1 tie and saw senior goalkeeper Julia Sheridan (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J.) make nine saves, including a leaping stop in the 90th minute, in its 3-2 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament first-round victory over host and No. 2 seed Holy Family University on Tuesday afternoon at Tiger Field.
Sophomore forward Danielle Stoll (Wanaque, N.J.) had a goal and an assist for Felician (8-9).
The Golden Falcons advance to the CACC semifinals for the second consecutive year. On Thursday, Felician will take on Philadelphia University at 1:30 p.m. on the campus of Post University in Waterbury, Conn.
"I couldn't be prouder of our players," said Felician head coach Thomas Notte, whose team lost seven seniors off of its 2014 squad. "They went through a lot of changes and still were able to make it back to the semifinals."
Despite being out-shot, 11-5, in the opening period, Felician took a 1-0 lead into halftime. With 10:07 left in the half, Marissa Nieves (Brick, N.J.) took Stoll's cross out of the air and sent it into the back of the net.
In the 12th minute of the second half, Holy Family equalized when Brianna Rock (Bensalem, Pa.) took advantage of a failed clear by the Golden Falcons to net her fourth goal of the season. But just more than nine minutes later, Felician took the lead for good. Junior defender Carly Brantner (Shrewsbury, N.J.) played a ball down the middle that Amanda Nowak (Lyndhurst, N.J.) ran onto. An open Nowak blasted a ball into the lower left corner of the goal for her team-high eighth goal of the season.
With 21:57 left in regulation, Stoll supplied what proved to be the eventual game-winner, an unassisted tally about 10 yards away on the left side. The Tigers cut their deficit in half when they were awarded a penalty kick after one of their players was taken down in the 18-yard box with 6:53 remaining, and junior Ashley Shackleford (Burlington, N.J.) converted.
The Tigers (11-6-1) earned a corner kick and got off three shots during the balance of the game. Their best chance came with fewer than 50 seconds remaining, when freshman Erin Purack (Farmingdale, N.Y.) sent a high attempt toward the net. The ball looked to be settling just under the crossbar, but Sheridan jumped and caught it to preserve the victory.
"Our work rate was phenomenal all over the field," Notte said. "We knew Holy Family had a high-powered offense, so finding the net more than once was very important today."
Felician survived a shot disadvantage of 26-10.
The victory sets up a re-match with Philadelphia, which eliminated the Golden Falcons from last year's CACC Tournament en route to winning the championship. The No. 6 seed Rams won a penalty-kick shootout over No. 3 seed Post in Waterbury during Tuesday's first round after the teams played to a 0-0, double-overtime draw.
"We're excited to get a re-match with Philadelphia," Notte said. "No matter what seed they are, they are always a strong team. We will have to play at our best all day on Thursday."
