Box Score Dubuque, Iowa, November 20, 2021 – The No. 6 Washington University in St. Louis women's soccer team ended its season against UW-La Crosse on Saturday afternoon. The Bears battled La Crosse to a 1-1 draw at the end of two overtimes and ultimately fell, 3-1, on penalty kicks. WashU ends its season 15-1-3.
It was UW-La Crosse that scored first, with just under five minutes left to play in the first half as Shana Macphail scored on a pass from Alexis McMahon.
The Bears trailed 1-0 until the final eight minutes of play when senior Gabbie Cesarone scored on passes from Kate Flynn and Erin Flynn in the 83rd minute to even the score. It was Cesarone's third goal during postseason.
After two scoreless overtime periods, the Bears and Eagles remained tied, forcing the game into penalty kicks.
Senior Ariana Miles missed the first WashU penalty kick and La Crosse's Katie Feller made hers, giving the Eagles a 1-0 edge. Senior Emily Kaufman converted her penalty kick and sophomore keeper Sidney Conner saved Macphail's attempt to even the score 1-1.
Junior Riley Alvarez missed her penalty kick attempt and La Crosse's Lizzy Eggers put hers past Conner to give La Crosse a 2-1 lead. The Eagles ultimately won the shootout following an Erin Flynn miss and a Sophie Amundson score.
Statistically, WashU outscored the Eagles 26-7, including an 11-4 advantage on-goal.
The Bears put pressure on La Crosse from the opening whistle, with numerous scoring opportunities throughout the game. Kate Flynn had a shot that was high in the fifth minute and just 10 seconds later, Erin Flynn's shot hit off the cross bar. A shot from Gaelen Clayton in the 11th minute was saved by La Crosse goalkeeper Quinn Shannon.
WashU had back-to-back shots on-goal in the 27th and 32nd minutes, from Erin Flynn and Alvarez, which were both saved.
Conner made her first save of the day on a Macphail shot in the 33rd minute, sending things the other way. Erin Flynn put a shot on-frame in the 36th minute, which was saved by Shannon.
Following the half, down 1-0, a shot from Miles was saved in the 49th minute. Another shot from Alvarez was saved in the 52nd minute and a ball from Sarah Netlner in the 59th minute sailed high.
The Bears continued to pressure the Eagles' defense, as a shot from Cesarone in the 64th minute went wide and another shot from Alvarez in the 65th minute was saved by Shannon. A ball from Cesarone in the 68th minute was stopped on the line by a La Crosse defender. Kate Flynn's shot in the 68th minute was saved by Shannon.
After peppering the Eagles defense and goalkeeper, Cesarone finally converted the goal for the Bears. WashU has one more shot in the remaining minutes of regulation, from Erin Flynn, which hit the post.
The Bears got off three shots in the first overtime. Gabby Kogler's shot in the 92nd minute was high and wide. Jolie Carl's shot in the 98th minute was saved by Shannon and a shot from Erin Flynn was high in the 99th minute.
Conner made her second save of the game in the 93rd minute, stopping a ball from Macphail.
The Eagles opened up the second overtime with another shot on-frame from Chelsea Gale in the 102nd minute, which Conner saved. Conner finished the day with three saves.
The Bears graduate seven seniors – Cesarone, Erin Flynn, Kaufman, Miles, Julia Miller, Jess Shapiro and Mary Frances West.
