Bobcats Advance to YSCC Final Four with Victory in PKs!

Paul Smiths, NY ~ After 120 minutes of game play in the Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC) quarterfinal playoff matchup between the hosts from Paul Smith's College and the visitors from the University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) it was still tied at 1-1.  90 minutes of regulation time followed by another 30 minutes of sudden death, golden goal overtime failed to decide who would advance to the YSCC Final Four.  

Penalty shootout.

That gut-wrenching, heart-pounding phrase that rekindles the memory of inarguably the most famous penalty shootout in the history of women's soccer, the USA's 5-4 victory over the People's Republic of China in the 1999 World Cup.

Sunday's matchup, while not on the same level, was undoubtedly felt with the same amount of passion and heart by the players on the pitch, as the Paul Smith's College women's soccer team defeated the UMA Moose 3-1 in penalties.

"I was on the edge of my seat the whole entire game," said Kelvey McGinnis, head coach of the Bobcats.  

"When regulation time ran out, I knew I needed to stay calm and simply tell the team that they know what they need to do - 'don't panic and we've got this.'  I pulled the five penalty kickers and Hoffman aside before they went up and told them to be confident and that I was so proud of all of them!" exclaimed McGinnis, reminiscing about the moments leading up to the shootout.

The game was a battle from start to finish, but it was the hosts who struck first as Maddy Jackson (New Bern, NC) delivered a free kick into a dangerous area which resulted in an own goal that put the Bobcats up 1-0 in the 22nd minute.

During the waning moments of a second half that saw chances for both teams, the Moose would tie it up in the 90th minute after pressing numbers forward and creating havoc for the defending Bobcats.  1-1 at the end of regulation meant overtime or penalties would decide the game, and with this year's golden goal reinstated for playoffs both teams had their chance to walk it off before getting to spot kicks.

After the 30 minutes of a scoreless OT, the game went to penalties.

Hayleigh Gates (West Winfield, NY), Micaela Diller (Marlton, NJ), Katrien Roefs (Bainbridge, NY), Grace Kronick (Berkshire County, MA), and Matti Swan (Schenectady, NY) would get the call to collectively decide who would advance.  But it was the Moose who drew the first pk, as leading scorer Gabby Allen slotted the shot past Bobcat goalkeeper Peyton Hoffman (Ilion, NY).

That was the only ball that would get past the sophomore keeper from the Mohawk Valley.

Gates did what she's been doing all season, and incidentally her entire career, as she drove the first pk for PSC into the back of the UMA net to tie it at 1-1.

Hoffman regained her line and readied herself for the second shooter.  A hard, low shot to Hoffman's left side was saved by an outstretched and diving Hoffman to give the Bobcats the advantage.  Next up was Diller, who, after backing up all the way to the 18, took a side step and ran up to the ball, feigning at a forceful power shot and deftly tucking it into the bottom left corner to put the hosts up 2-1.

Hoffman was up again, and this time, instead of going left, she guessed correctly once again and saved a low shot to the middle to protect the lead.

Roefs would then blast her shot into the side-netting on the left side to put pressure on the Moose to score - if they didn't, Paul Smith's College would punch their ticket to Pottersville.

Hoffman, brimming with confidence, stepped into the goalkeeper's area one more time.  Pointing to her left as the UMA shooter eyed her shot, the diversion worked, as the shot went to Hoffman's right.  In fact, it went so far right that it missed the frame, which gave the Bobcats the win and sent them on to the YSCC semis.

"Going into the game, we wanted this win," said Hoffman.

After the regulation and overtime periods "We were not done yet," recalled Hoffman, as "Beautiful shots from Hayleigh Gates, Micaela Diller, and Kate Roefs allowed us to not have to go through all five shooters and come out with the well-fought win."

The Bobcats sit at 6-4-1 and are the eighth-ranked team in the nation.  They play Central Maine CC on Saturday, November 2nd in Pottersville, NY in the YSCC Final Four hosted by Word of Life Bible Institute.  If they win that game, they play the winner of Southern Maine CC and NHTI on Sunday for the YSCC championship and an automatic bid to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Women's Division II Soccer National Tournament in Pittsburgh, PA.

You can follow the women's soccer team on Instagram at @paulsmiths_wsoccer or follow the general athletics account at @smitty_nation for scores, highlights, pictures, and much more!

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At Paul Smith's College, it's about the experience. As the only four-year institution of higher education located in the Adirondack Park in upstate New York, Paul Smith's provides real-world, hands-on learning in fields such as business and hospitality, culinary management, forestry, environmental sciences, and natural resources. We can draw on industries and resources available in our backyard while preparing students for successful careers anywhere. Our community of resourceful, enterprising, supportive, and adventurous individuals collectively provides experiential education, student support in the classroom and beyond, and meaningful opportunities for our alumni. We pride ourselves on research and advocacy on issues that improve our planet and the lives of the people who inhabit it. Learn more at www.paulsmiths.edu.