November 18, 2022 – Emporia State started the match on the front foot as the Hornets got the first look at goal
Angela Palmer forcing a save from the Bemidji State keeper inside the first minute. Through the first 18 minutes of the match, the Hornets recorded six shots to just one for the Beavers before Bemidji State generated their scoring chance.
The Beavers played in a cross that found its way across goal for an open look that gave Bemidji State a 1-0 lead over the Hornets. Despite the goal from the Beavers, Emporia State continued to apply the pressure as they generated four corner kicks and a shot from
Hannah Woolery that forced another save from the Bemidji State keeper. Emporia State continued to pressure the Beavers but were unable to score in the first half as they trailed 1-0 heading into the halftime break.
Emporia State outshot the Beavers 12-4 and totaled seven corner kicks to just one from Bemidji State.
In the second half the conditions worsened but did not slow the Hornet attacks as Emporia State recorded a trio of shots and earned a pair of corner kicks in the first 20 minutes of the second half. The goal for Emporia State would come with just under 13 minutes remaining in the second half.
The Hornets forced a Beaver turnover in the midfield before playing the ball forward to
Mackenzie Dimarco near the edge of the Bemidji State box. After handling the pressure from Beaver backline, Dimarco was able to turn the defender and take a shot from 20 yards to beat the keeper high in the center of the goal to tie the match 1-1.
Despite some pressure from both teams, the match stayed even at 1-1 as the match headed into overtime.
In the overtime periods, neither team generated much as the Beavers outshot the Hornets 3-2 over the two ten-minute periods which forced three saves from
Mackenzi Goen. With the match still tied, the two teams headed into a penalty shootout.
The Beavers took a 2-0 lead through the first two rounds before Bemidji State sent their third attempt wide of the post. Dimarco stepped to the spot and shot low to the left and squeezed it past the diving keeper to trim the Bemidji State advantage to 2-1 in the shootout. Following a make from the Beavers, the Bemidji State keeper was able to save the fourth attempt as the Hornets fell 3-1 in the shootout period.
Emporia State concludes their season with a 13-6-5 record and their first trip to the Central Regional Championship in program history.
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