Box Score WATERBURY, Conn. – The Philadelphia University women's soccer team won its second Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) championship in program history with a 3-0 triumph over host Post University in the final of the CACC Tournament Saturday afternoon on LaMoy Field.
With the win, Philadelphia—who last won the CACC crown in 2006—receives the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. It will be the first time that the program has reached the NCAA Tournament in its 24-year history.
The Rams (14-6-1) will find out their opponent on Monday, Nov. 10.
Post ends its 2014 season at 12-5-1.
Philadelphia jumped out to a 2-0 advantage with a pair of first-half goals. Patrice Maro (Westmont, N.J./Haddon Twp.) opened the scoring at the 20:17 mark with her fourth goal of the season. Michaela Van Antwerp (Andover, Mass./Andover) played a cross into the penalty area and brought out Post keeper Laura Morgan. After Morgan failed to get to the pass, Maro deposited the ball into the open net.
Cristina Nasti's (Verona, N.J./Montclair Kimberley Academy) third goal of 2014 with five minutes left in the half doubled the Philadelphia lead. Nasti was the recipient of a rebound after Morgan stopped a Carla Chmielewski (Glassboro, N.J./Paul VI) shot to set her up for the goal.
Chmielewski made her way into the goal column at the 89:22 after being left all alone inside the penalty area. Van Antwerp picked up her second assist of the match on Chmielewski's team-leading seventh goal of the year.
The Philadelphia defense was strong once again, holding Post to just three shots. Courtney Shaw (Langhorne, Pa./Villa Joseph Marie) made two saves for her conference-best 14th shutout of the season.
Morgan made two saves for Post in the first half, and was relieved by Brittany Carroll, who stopped one shot in the final 45 minutes.
The Rams attempted 11 shots.
CACC Defender of the Year Hannah Palese (Haddon Heights, N.J./Haddon Heights) was named MVP of the CACC Tournament. Palese was joined on the all-tournament team by Meagan Yates (Limerick, Pa./Spring-Ford), Maro, Van Antwerp, and Shaw.
