OWINGS MILLS, Md.--The sixth-seeded Hood College women's soccer
team (10-7-2) upended the third-seeded Stevenson University
Mustangs (11-5-4) 3-1 in a shootout Saturday in the quarterfinals
of the Capital Athletic Conference tournament.
The Blazers become the first Hood women's team to ever win a CAC
playoff game. Hood will travel to second-seeded St. Mary's College
(Md.) Tuesday for a 2:30 semifinal contest.
Sophomore Rachelle Buhrman was virtually unstoppable in the net,
turning away a career-high 16 shot attempts on the afternoon, in
addition to three of four in the shootout.
After 110 minutes of scoreless soccer, during which the Blazers
were outshot 31-8, the contest went to penalty kicks.
Tonia Cristino converted Stevenson's first attempt, the only
ball to get past Buhrman all day. But sophomore Alexa Hubicki
evened things up at 1-1 when she beat Mustang keeper Brittany Ross
to the top right corner of the net.
Buhrman then rejected Heather Redding's attempt, the fifth time
on the afternoon that she denied Redding. Senior captain Liz
Rakowski was next for Hood and she blasted one past Ross to put
Hood up 2-1.
Stevenson's third attempt came from Allison Humphries, who had
attempted eight shots on the day, three of which were saved by
Buhrman. This dual would end in a similar fashion as Buhrman once
again turned away Humphries' shot. Junior Nikki Antalffy was Hood's
third shooter but her attempt was saved by Ross.
In round four, Stevenson turned to freshman sensation Stephanie
Eyler, the CAC's leading scorer and a Catoctin High School product
who ranks among the NCAA Division III leaders in goals (21) and
points (47). Buhrman came up with one of the biggest saves of her
soccer career when she stuffed Eyler to preserve Hood's 2-1
advantage.
The Blazers then countered with a freshman as well, midfielder
Casey Miller, who had attempted just seven shots all season. The
native of Broadview Heights, Ohio, fired her shot high and to Ross'
left for the game-clincher, propelling the Blazers into the CAC
semifinals for the first time in program history.
Hood and Stevenson have engaged in two battles that will both go
down favorably in the Blazer record books. Hood defeated Stevenson
(formerly Villa Julie College) 1-0 on Oct. 4, 2007 at Thomas
Athletic Field for the program's first-ever CAC triumph.
The Blazers will have a stern test awaiting them Tuesday, as
Hood shows an 0-6 record all-time against second-seeded St. Mary's.
The Seahawks, who have outscored the Blazers 42-0 in the previous
six tilts, topped Hood, 4-0, in the regular season meeting between
the two rivals back on Sept. 9. The Blazers will look to ride the
momentum from this historic victory into Tuesday's showdown.
