LANCASTER, PA - The Penn State Abington women's soccer team won its first North Eastern Athletic Conference tournament title this afternoon, besting the host Lancaster Bible College Chargers in an epic, back and forth match that needed a shootout to decide the victor.

Junior MF Brittany Palmer connected on the fourth of five Lions' shootout attempts to clinch the match and title. Freshman GK Gabrielle Benedict was named the tournament MVP after recording eight saves in two games.

"It feels so great," said fourth-year head coach David Castellanos. "To see how far we've come as a program - from going from 0-17 and not being able to win a thing to here. It's unreal."

After a scoreless first half, the Lions took a 1-0 lead when Alyssa Kaye hit pay dirt off a corner kick from Palmer. LBC hadn't allowed a goal since October 13, a span of 459 minutes and 24 seconds. The Chargers came roaring back to take a 2-1 lead with goals from Monica Horning (64th minute) and Whitney Heyse (67th minute). Soon thereafter, junior captain Brittany Middleton collected the ball in box and deposited it past conference goalkeeper of the year Emily Lloyd into the lower right hand corner of the net to tie the match at 2-2.

After two scoreless 10-minute sudden death overtime periods, the game went to the shootout.

Shootout results

Abington	Brittany Middleton	MADE
LBC	Kristina Clairmont	MADE
Abington	Samantha Whalen	MADE
LBC	Monica Horning	MADE
Abington	Brianna Heck	MISSED
LBC	Karyn Harkness	MISSED
Abington	Alyssa Kaye	MADE
LBC	Jenna Godwin	MISSED
Abington	Brittany Palmer	MADE

Notes: The Chargers had not lost at home since Sept. 1, 2010, when they lost to Alvernia, 3-1. The Lions are now 17-1 and have won 13 straight matches.

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