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Dana Poetzsch #10 of Molloy College reacts after scoring on...

Dana Poetzsch #10 of Molloy College reacts after scoring on a penalty kick with 3:11 remaining in the NCAA Division II women's soccer East Regional Quarterfinal against University of Bridgeport at John Darcy Field in Rockville Centre on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021.  Credit: James Escher

Molloy rolled into the NCAA Tournament with momentum. The Lions were fresh off their second consecutive East Coast Conference Tournament championship and winners of their last 10 games. They rode that momentum along with Dana Poetzsch to a first-round victory.

No. 2 Molloy defeated No. 7 Bridgeport , 2-1, in the first round of the NCAA Division II East Regional at Darcy field. Poetzsch scored both goals for the Lions, unassisted.

Poetzsch drew a foul in the 86th minute and was set up with a penalty kick. She was three of three on penalty kicks this season and made it four of four as her kick found the back of the net with what proved to be the winning score.

"I just think to myself this is an opportunity like any other, if I make it, I make it, if I don’t it’s not the end of the world," Poetzsch said. "Luckily it went in."

The Lions (18-2) controlled the tempo for most of the first half, routinely working near Bridgeport’s goal, but neither team was able to find the back of the net. Leigh-Ann Ramsay scored the game’s first goal for Bridgeport (11-7-1) in the 53rd minute on a header off a Samantha St. Pierre corner kick.

Molloy had a great scoring chance in the 68th minute when Poetzsch got past the Bridgeport goalie and fired a left-footed kick, but it sailed just right of the goal. The team then got a jolt of life in the 73rd minute when goalie Jackie Carty stopped a Bridgeport penalty kick.

"When we practice penalty kicks, Jackie Carty is absolutely amazing," Poetzsch said. "She’s the best in the conference… I have all the confidence in the world in her."

Poetzsch a senior nursing major, then redeemed herself from the earlier missed opportunity in the 75th minute with an unassisted goal to tie the score. The two goals scored in the game were her 13th and 14th of the season.

Molloy advances to the second round, where they will face Mercy College at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

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