RICHMOND, Va. –
Maci Bower scored the golden goal in the 108
th minute to lift La Salle to the third Atlantic 10 Championship in program history with a 1-0 win over VCU in Sunday's title game at Sports Backers Stadium. The Explorers earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and will wait for Monday's Selection Show to determine their opponent for the program's fifth NCAA Tournament appearance.
Madison Bower tracked down a long pass from
Jess Shanahan and flicked it with her back heel to a streaking
Maci Bower, who took a touch and then drove the ball off VCU keeper Audrey Sanderson's leg and inside the near post. The entire La Salle bench then stormed the pitch and piled on top of the 11 on the field.
"This is one of the most special groups I've ever coached in my entire life," said head coach
Paul Royal. "That's why they're finding ways to win."
La Salle goalkeeper
Larisa Zambelli tied an Atlantic 10 Championship single-game record with 14 saves in Sunday's championship game to earn the tournament's Most Outstanding Player award.
"We just had faith. When you keep believing in something, you achieve it at the end," said Zambelli. "That's what we did defensively, and we got the job done."
Joining Zambelli on the All-Championship team from La Salle were
Madison Bower,
Maci Bower,
Kristin Haugstad and
Katherine Hennessey.
The two teams played scoreless through regulation, although VCU outshot the Explorers 23-5 in the first 90 minutes. La Salle had seven of their 12 shots for the game in extra time.
"I told them at halftime, I've never believed in a group more than this group because of what they do every day," added Royal. "That's the special mark of a team, is to believe in each other and have that chemistry."
The 2017 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship bracket will be announced during the Selection Show on Monday at 4:30 PM. Thirty-two First Round games will be conducted at non-predetermined campus sites from November 10-12. The winning team from each game will advance to the second round.
