Nov. 9, 2007

CHA 1, UR 0

FOR 1, UD 1 (FOR wins in PK, 4-3)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Charlotte 49ers (15-4-1) and the Fordham Rams (10-4-5) advanced to the finals of the 2007 Atantic 10 Women's Soccer Championship after earning wins on Friday evening. The 49ers behind a Lindsey Ozimek goal defeated Richmond (8-12-2), 1-0, to win the first Atlantic 10 Tournament semifinal game. Then, Fordham and Dayton (10-4-5) played to a 1-1 double overtime draw and the Rams would advance to the Championship game on penalty kicks, 4-3.

Charlotte, the top seed, scored the game's only goal when Ozimek blasted the ball toward the Richmond goal from 25 yards out. Richmond goalkeeper Kate Hudson tried to grab the ball but the shot was just a little high and it went off her fingertips into the goal in the 53rd minute. Ozimek's goal was her fifth of the season.

"I am not the least bit surprised that it was a close game," Charlotte coach Jon Lipsitz said. "They outworked us in the first half. At halftime I challenged our team to work harder. We would start playing soccer, when we started playing harder and winning more balls. They wanted to play pretty soccer, but you can't do that without the ball. I am proud of them for responding. We played a better second half."

Charlotte's defense led by goalkeeper Lauren Brown recorded their 11th shutout of the season. Brown recorded six saves in the game. Richmond's goalkeeper Hudson only allowed one goal and finished the game with seven saves.

The 49ers finished the game with a 14-10 advantage in shots. Ozimek paced the 49ers with four shots. While Sam Huecker added three shots to Charlotte's attack. Richmond's Kristen Stalter and Jen Ruhe recorded two shots apiece for the Spiders.

"Charlotte is a great team," Richmond coach Peter Albright said. "I thought it was a very even game. We were better in the first half and they certainly were the better team in the second. I think the better team won and I think they're going to be tough to handle on Sunday. Everything we do is based on tempo. We were able to do that in the first half, but we were not able to do that in the second. They were able to control the ball and that was the difference."

The second A-10 semifinal game was a back and forth affair with Fordham advancing to the Championship game, 4-3, on penalty kicks.

"I think through the whole season our defense played well," Fordham coach Ness Selmani said. "For anybody to lose in this situation and in this way is really not fair. I feel bad for the losing team in this way. Our trademark is that we play 90 minutes and don't look at the score. I am never afraid of my team being down. We've been down before and came back. It makes me proud to be the coach of this team.

Dayton scored the game's first goal when Kristen Persichini headed the ball into the goal from two yards out in the 20th minute. Persichini's goal was her fifth of the season.

The Flyers maintained their lead and appeared headed for the Championship game until Fordham's Courtney Fedge blasted a ball off a deflection from Dayton's goalkeeper Nikki Reed into the back of the net in the 75th minute tying the score at 1-1. Fedge's goal was her second of the season.

Both teams had several scoring chances during the remainder of regulation and the two overtime periods but no one was able to put the ball into the back of the net.

The outcome would be decided on penalty kicks. Dayton took the early 3-2 lead after Courtney Sirmans, Mandi Back and Cara Cornacchia put their shots into the back of the net. Fordham's Catherine Huvane and Liane Schoenstein also connected on their penalty kicks. Then, Dayton's Reed blocked shots by Fordham's Katie McDermott and Erica Frizzell giving Dayton the lead. Then, Dayton's Emily Miller and Reed missed their penalty kicks and Fordham's Lauren Bustos made her kick tying the score, 3-3. Fordham's Kim Boulos connected on her penalty kick and when Dayton's Alli Foust's penalty kick shot went wide, the Rams advanced to the championship game.

"I thought we could have put another goal away in the first half," Dayton's coach Mike Tucker said. "We had some great opportunities. We have hit the inside of the post about 20 times this year and not one has rolled in and that's the story of our season. I am disappointed for our seniors to not get to play in another NCAA tournament. I thought we were the better team today and it's a shame that we were not able to advance in that case, but you need to have a little luck on our side and it wasn't there today. Give Fordham credit, they battled and did their thing, but all there is now is disappointment."

Charlotte and Fordham will battle for the Atlantic Championship and the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament at Charlotte's Transamerica Field, Sunday, Nov. 11, at 1:00pm.