CINCINNATI, Ohio – #4 Rose-Hulman battled the #1 Mt. St. Joseph Lions to a 1-1 tie, before ultimately falling in a penalty kick shootout in the HCAC Semifinals.
Emma Johns opened the game with a shot that missed high six minutes into the match. The Lions responded two minutes later with a pair of shots, that were blocked away by Rose-Hulman's defense.
The Fightin' Engineers were awarded their first corner kick, which came in the 11th minute.
Taylor Beede lobbed her pass deep inside the box, where
Lena Darini headed her shot into the top left corner of the goal.
Darini's goal gave her a team-high four goals on the season, and she now leads Rose-Hulman with ten total points.
The Lions fired a strike on goal in the 33rd minute, where Kendal Fox's shot down the middle was hauled in by
Alicia Gonzalez.
Alana Day added a shot for the Fightin' Engineers five minutes later, which would be saved by Megan Kallmeyer.
Mt. St. Joseph made an impact early in the second half, as they drew a foul inside the box in the 47th minute. Mary Anhofer took the penalty kick attempt, which she kicked into the left corner of the goal to tie the game at 1-1.
Gaby Hansen launched a shot from way outside the box in the 65th minute, which was barely corralled by the Lions' keeper. Mt. St. Joseph was able to dribble downfield, but they were denied on a 67th-minute save from Gonzalez.
Both teams would remain tied 1-1 at the end of a very competitive 90 minutes of regulation. The Lions recorded four shots on goal to Rose-Hulman's three, while also attempting ten corner kicks to two from the Fightin' Engineers.
Anhofer added a pair of shots for Mt. St. Joseph in the 92nd and 93rd minutes which both missed wide left. During the double overtime period, Johns attempted a shot in the 105th minute which was blocked by the Lions defense.
Ally Smith recovered the deflection, where she sailed a shot towards the goal, that barely missed wide right.
The game would remain tied after both overtime periods, leading to a penalty kick shootout. Mt. St. Joseph was able to capitalize on their attempts, as they outscored Rose-Hulman 4-1, to advance to the HCAC Championship.
The Fightin' Engineers conclude the 2026 season with an overall record of 11-2-4, while going 6-1-4 against HCAC competition.
Rose-Hulman's terrific senior class of
Riley Heasley,
Ally Smith,
Meagan Hall,
Rachel Snow,
Emma Johns,
Janae Gillus,
Caitlin Pooler,
Vianey Garcia and
Katie Borromeo concludes their careers with a 2025 HCAC Tournament Championship, an overall record of 39-21-12 and a career HCAC record of 24-5-6.
