The Bentley University women’s soccer team has punched its ticket to the Northeast 10 (NE10) semifinals, narrowly overcoming Southern Connecticut in a high-stakes penalty shootout on Saturday. The match, which ended 1-1 after 110 grueling minutes of regulation and overtime, saw the Falcons secure a 5-3 victory in the decisive penalty round. According to official reporting from Bentley Athletics, the win marks the 14th of the season for the program—a new school record for single-season victories.
The intensity of the match was immediate. Southern Connecticut struck first just 36 seconds into the contest when Frida Norret found the back of the net with a shot from the right wing. Bentley wasted little time mounting a response, leveling the score less than two minutes later. Kendra Foley headed in a cross from Sydney DeRoche inside the six-yard box, effectively resetting the tone for the remainder of the afternoon. For the next 107 minutes, however, neither side could break the deadlock, as defensive discipline took center stage.
Penalty kicks are often viewed as a cruel way to decide a match of this magnitude, yet they provide a stark look at composure under pressure. Bentley’s execution was near-flawless. Evelyn Beers opened the scoring for the Falcons, followed by a successful conversion from Cami Ayandele. The turning point arrived in the second round, when Bentley goalkeeper Holly DiPalo denied Southern’s attempt, granting the Falcons a 2-1 advantage. From there, both teams traded goals in the third and fourth rounds—Sydney DeRoche and Maddy LePage scoring for Bentley—before Abi Hennessey clinched the victory in the fifth round.
The Road to the Semifinals
This win sets up a semifinal clash against Saint Michael’s College, scheduled for Thursday, November 5, at 1:00 p.m. While the postseason environment brings a different level of volatility, Bentley carries a degree of familiarity into the matchup. The two teams met earlier this season on October 17, with Bentley securing a 2-1 home victory behind goals from Hennessey and Annie Vigue.
Achieving 14 wins in a single season breaks the school record for Bentley.
The transition from a regular-season win to a tournament victory is never guaranteed. Saint Michael’s enters the game looking to overcome their October loss to the Falcons, and the nature of soccer—where a single defensive lapse or a moment of individual brilliance can dictate the outcome—means the Falcons’ record offers no cushion. The Falcons must now transition from their record-breaking season to the upcoming semifinal match on Thursday against Saint Michael’s.
