Mount St. Joseph women's soccer HCAC Championship in overtime thriller; Dotson named tournament MVP

The Mount St. Joseph women's soccer team secured the 2024 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship on Saturday, taking down #2 Rose-Hulman 1-0 in overtime.

With the win, the Lions have earned the right to represent the HCAC in the NCAA DIII Women's Soccer National Tournament for the first time since 2018.

In what turned out to be a defensive battle the Lions backline of HCAC tournament Most Valuable Player McKinzie Dotson (a sophomore from Russellville, Ohio/Eastern Brown HS), Vivian Willis, Alondra Sotelo and Alena Schirripa were fantastic once again.

Holding Rose-Hulman scoreless through regulation and gave their offense an opportunity to win the game in overtime. That group, coupled with fantastic goalkeeping once again by Jordan Schneider, who had three saves in the game, registered their fourth shutout in a row and 11th of the season.

The Lions secured the win in the 94th minute as Ella Pittman rebounded a shot off the crossbar and headed it into the back of the net for the win.

(Editor’s note: The team also includes McClain graduate Kerigan Pollard.)

The Mount had four players make the 2024 HCAC All-Tournament Team:

• Most Valuable Player - McKenzie Dotson
• Paige Adams
• Mary Anhofer
• Ella Pittman.

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