Hannah Dunn scores twice in SAC championship; #6 Bears claim title in penalty kicks

Matthews, N.C. —- The 9th-ranked and second-seeded Catawba College women's soccer team remained tied with 6th-ranked and top-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne Bears after 110 minutes of action, but it was the Bears that prevailed in penalty kicks to claim the 2023 SAC tourney crown at The Sportsplex at Matthews.

TEAM STATS

- Lenoir-Rhyne out-shot Catawba 16-10

- The Bears had eight shots on goal to the Catawba Indians' five

- Catawba recorded five of nine corner kicks on the afternoon

- The Catawba Indians were called for 19 of the 32 fouls in the contest along with all three yellow cards

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

- Hannah Dunn scored twice on both shots she put on target

- McKenzee Johnson assisted on the opening goal

- Helen Summerell, Madison Henry and Lillie Rusher also provided shots on target

- Ashley Hughes made five saves in goal

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST HALF

- Dunn struck for the lead in the 27th minute off Johnson's assist

- LR's Ria Acton answered with a goal on a free kick just outside the box

SECOND HALF

- The Bears earned a penalty in the opening minute of the second half

- Acton scored to give the Bears its first lead of the afternoon

- Henry's shot on goal was saved by the LR keeper in the 49th minute

- Hughes stepped up for a save in the 53rd minute

- The LR keeper made a diving save on Rusher's free kick attempt to preserve their lead in the 65th minute

- Lenoir-Rhyne turned around to put a pair of shots on target in the 66th, but Catawba made both saves

- A free kick from Kelly Havens eventually found the foot of Dunn, who netted the equalizer in the 74th minute

- LR got the only shot on target in the remainder of regulation in the 86th minute, but Hughes made the saves as the sides entered overtime deadlocked

FIRST OVERTIME

- LR had both shots on goal in the first overtime; Hughes stopped an Evan O'Leary attempt before making a diving save on Alexis Cagno's try for a winner in the 97th minute

SECOND OVERTIME

- Neither side was able to get a shot on goal in the second overtime, with the teams headed to a penalty shootout

PENALTY KICKS

- O'Leary converted the first penalty kick for LR, while Catawba's first attempt was wide

- Acton and Dunn both converted second kicks, as LR led 2-1 after two rounds

- Elin Hansson converted while Catawba's third attempt was wide, forcing Catawba into a must-save opportunity

- Ella Garner's penalty clinched the tournament title for the Bears

UP NEXT

- Catawba learns its postseason destination on Monday night, with the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Tournament selection show at 6:30 p.m. streaming live on NCAA.com