UNCW Rallies Past Northeastern, 3-2, To Reach CAA Title Game For First Time Since 2012

4/15/2021 9:31:45 PM

Rob Washburn

Box Score

TOWSON, Md. (April 15, 2021) – Junior Morgan Nanni scored two second-half goals, including a game-winning penalty kick in the 70^th minute, as UNCW rallied for a 3-2 victory over Northeastern in the second semifinal game of the CAA Women’s Soccer Championship, presented by Primis, on Thursday night at Tiger Field.

The Seahawks (7-2) advance to the CAA championship game for the first time since 2012, where they will meet Elon at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Northeastern falls to 5-5-1 after the setback.

Trailing 2-0 at intermission, UNCW struck quickly in the second half. The Seahawks put a pair of shots on net that were punched away by NU keeper Angeline Friel, but UNCW’s Audrey Harding was able to control the loose ball in the box and find the right side of the net to make it 2-1 in the 49^th minute. It was Harding’s fifth goal of the year.

Northeastern nearly extended its lead in the 62^nd minute when a header by Julianne Ross looked like it was destined for the lower right corner of the goal, but UNCW defender Carey Allard was able to clear it off the line. That play became even bigger when the Seahawks got the equalizer in the 64^th minute. Grace Pilcher sent a long free kick into the box, where it was deflected by a NU defender. Nanni corralled the rebound and fired a 25-yard strike into the right side of net to tie the contest at 2-2.

The Seahawks took their first lead of the night after NU was called for a foul in the box in the 70^th minute. Nanni converted the penalty kick into the upper right corner for her team-leading sixth goal of the season.

The Huskies nearly drew even with under three minutes to play. Alexis Legowski powered a shot off the post and Porter Dooley followed with a strike that UNCW keeper Blair Barefoot was able to push over the crossbar.

Northeastern took a 1-0 advantage in the 20^th minute. Katarina Nilsson sent a cross from the left side into the middle of the box, where a charging Gabrielle Scarlett sent a low shot under the hands of Barefoot from 12 yards out.

The Huskies doubled their advantage just 40 seconds later. Scarlett fed a pass to Chelsea Domond, who dribbled into the box and fired a 15-yard laser from the right side into the upper left corner for her team-leading fourth goal of the year.

Northeastern finished with a narrow 18-16 shot advantage. Friel and Barefoot each recorded eight saves in the contest.