RHODE ISLAND (6-9-2)
Starters: Hutchins (GK), Bike, Hagerty, Schafer, Ross, Derry, Ellis, Cavino, O'Connell, Dapprich, Rosenthal
Subs: Santaniello, Mogauro, Sallent, Fitzgerald, Highton, Kirkpatrick, Allen, Garniss
Saint Louis (9-8-1)
Starters: Puricelli (GK), Sawyer, Kelly, Friedrich, Halverson, Kohl, Houck, Miller, Gaebe, Heckel, Stram
Subs: Arthur, Summers, Lawler, Beach, Hatfield, Preusser, Walsh
Scoring Summary
52:30 – URI – Ross (unassisted)
85:28 – SLU – Halverson (Kelly, Arthur)
102:36 – SLU – Heckel (Friedrich)
How it Happened
Saint Louis scored two late goals – one in the final minutes of regulation, and another in double-overtime – to end Rhode Island's season in heartbreak fashion Saturday afternoon at Hermann Stadium.
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After a scoreless first half,
Claire Ross took matters into her own hands when the Billiken's sixth corner kick of the game failed to be a threat. The corner was immediately cleared out to Ross, who received the ball at the top of SLU's 18-yard box and went the length of the field. The Rhody forward cut into URI's 18 and maneuvered around the lone Saint Louis defender back to challenger her, then fired a right-to-left shot inside the far post to put the Rams on the board.
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With time winding down, Saint Louis continued to apply the pressure and eventually tied the score with just 4:32 remaining. Brianna Arthur found Brionna Halverson at the far post, where Halverson was able to beat URI's
Faith Hutchins 1v1 for the equalizer.
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SLU had an excellent chance at putting the game away with less than two minutes remaining in the first overtime period but Hutchins made an game-saving stop to keep the score level and eventually send it to double OT. There, the Billikens got their golden goal off the head of Lyndsey Heckel, who redirected a Hannah Friedrich corner kick off the inside of the far post and into the back of the net for the 2-1 win.
Inside the Box Score
- Claire Ross' goal was the second of her career, and second against the Billikens. She also scored last weekend's overtime game-winner against Saint Louis – a goal which secured URI's spot in the Atlantic 10 Championship.
- Faith Hutchins finished with nine saves for the Rams while her counterpart, Emily Puricelli, stopped two of Rhody's three shots on goal.
- Overall, SLU outshot URI 25-7 and had a 10-0 advantage in corner kicks.
- The postseason appearance was Rhode Island's first since 2016 and just the Rams' third in the last 15 years.
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