Lebanon Valley 1, Widener (OT)
 
LVC Starters
Steenkamer, Kat, Ward, Simon, Kagarise, Alba, Dinger, Pentz, Garman, Sheibley, Willi (GK)
 
Widener Starters
Schlosser, Walker, Eberly, Dougherty, Scoma, Benson, Radnoff, Ramos, Marcavage, Daniels, Roberto (GK)
 
How It Happened
ANNVILLE, Pa. – Cecile Kat delivered a goal with just over two minutes remaining in the first overtime to give Lebanon Valley a 1-0 victory over Widener in the MAC Commonwealth Field Hockey Semifinal round on Wednesday night at Arnold Field. The Flying Dutchmen soared to 12-6 and advanced to the 2019 MAC Commonwealth Championship, while the Pride dropped to 15-4.
 
As the seconds ticked down in the first overtime, Kat received a pass around midfield and outran the first defender, and then tapped the ball around another Widener defender and corralled the ball. After outrunning the defense, Kat had just one person to beat, the goalkeeper. Widener's net minder Sabrina Roberto came out of her crease aggressively, but Kat poked the ball past her and into the back-right corner to give send LVC to the MAC Commonwealth Championship game.


 
In the opening quarter, the Dutchmen generated a pair of early penalty corners, but were unable to capitalize. Then, midway through the first, Widener got some opportunities to score thanks to three penalty corners, but LVC's defense didn't allow any real chances and the contest remained scoreless after 15 minutes of action.
 
The defensive struggle continued for both teams in the second, as the Pride made four more corners, but Nikki Willi and the rest of the Dutchmen's stout defense stood tall and the game remained scoreless heading into halftime. The third quarter was just as high-pressured as the first two, but neither team could generate any offense. In the fourth, the Pride's Jackie Daniels gave Widener its first offensive opportunity with back-to-back shots on goal, but Willi stopped both shots, keeping the game knotted at 0-0.
 
Early in the overtime period, Daniels got off another dangerous shot, but it sailed just wide. Then, after Kat came off the bench, she sprinted down the field and was one-on-one with a defender and got a shot off, but it hit the outside of the cage.
 
Inside the Numbers
 - LVC makes it returns to the conference championship game for the first time since Nov. 6, 2010, when the Dutchmen fell to No. 1 Messiah 5-2 before earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, where LVC fell to No. 4 Bowdoin 4-3 in overtime in the Third Round.
 - Cecile Kat scored her league-leading 19th goal of the season.
 - Nikki Willi picked up her ninth victory of the season after making four saves.
 - Alida Steenkamer registered a defensive save for the Dutchmen.
 - The visitors led in total shots (12-6) tonight and shots on goal at 5-4.
 - Widener also held the edge in penalty corners at 9-3.
 - No. 1 Messiah defeated No. 4 Arcadia 5-1 in the other semifinal round contest this evening.
 
We Goin' to the Ship
LVC heads to Grantham this Saturday, Nov. 9, for the 2019 MAC Commonwealth Championship against Messiah at 1 p.m.
 
Stay Connected
Be sure to follow @lvcathletics on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for the most in-depth coverage of LVC athletics.