BECKLEY, W.Va. – Gannon's memorable 2021 season came to an end on Thursday afternoon as the sixth-seeded Golden Knights dropped a 2-1 final in overtime against third-seeded Bloomsburg during the opening round of the NCAA Atlantic Regional Tournament at the Paul Cline Memorial Complex in Beckley, West Virginia.
 
The loss ends Gannon's fifth-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament as the Golden Knights wrap up the year with a 12-4-3 overall record. Bloomsburg advances to Saturday's second round and improved to 16-4-2 on the season.
 
Gannon got on the board first when Sarah Fails (Girard, Pa./Villa Maria) broke free of defenders and scored left-footed down from the left side of the box. The goal was unassisted and came just 4:13 into the opening half. The Golden Knights would hold the lead until the 43^rd minute when a Gannon foul set up a PK attempt for Bloomsburg's Natalie Holmes. Holmes found the back of the net by beating Gannon goalkeeper Kennedy Solymosi (Eastlake, Ohio/Lake Catholic) with a shot to the right.
 
The second half would remain scoreless thanks to two outstanding saves by Solymosi during the final two minutes of regulation. Both on-target shots came from Bloomsburg's Nicole Varano at the 88:28 and 89:57 marks late in the second half that Solymosi turned away.
 
Gannon also had two scoring chances earlier in the second half, both off the foot of leader scorer Taylor Lewis (Erie, Pa./Harbor Creek) at the 52:32 and 60:38 marks, but each attempt was turned away by Bloomsburg goalkeeper Alexa Ryan.
 
Gannon had the first scoring opportunity of the overtime period just over a minute in when Lewis fired a shot that went just above the crossbar and out of bounds.
 
A few minutes later, BU's Paige Harris drove towards the goal and appeared to be preparing for a shot, but instead she provided a pass to Abby Groff in front of the goal that set up the game-winning score that helped the Huskies advance to Saturday's second round against the winner of the 2/7 matchup between Concord and Mercyhurst.
 
Statistically, the game was evenly matched with Bloomsburg holding a 17-11 advantage in total shots. Both goalkeepers had outstanding outings as Solymosi recorded six saves and Ryan added four for Bloomsburg. Bloomsburg also had a 4-2 advantage in corner kicks.
 
Lewis and Gabby Boden (Butler, Pa./Butler) both recorded two shots on goal for Gannon in the narrow setback. Fails, Laurel Prokopchak (Erie, Pa./Harbor Creek) and Jamie Seneca (Plum, Pa./Plum) also attempted shots for the Golden Knights.
 
Nicole Varano led Bloomsburg with six total shots on the offensive end. Campbell Power also fired four shots.

Today's result wrapped up the careers of 13 Lady Knights. The seniors include: Clara Almeter (Monroeville, Pa./Serra Catholic), Kayla Bevacqua (Welland, Ontario/Notre Dame), Maria Camacho (Bogota, Colombia/Gimnasio Los Pinos), Alexa Dix (Jamestown, N.Y./Jamestown), Elena Gabler (Teltow, Germany/Immanuel Kant Gymnasium), Ashleigh Kelly (Gold Coast, Australia/Palm Beach Currumbin State), Taylor Lewis (Erie, Pa./Harbor Creek), Emma Manczka (Fairview, Pa./McDowell), Megan McCartney (Chicora, Pa./Karns City), Laurel Prokopchak (Erie, Pa./Harbor Creek), Diante Scheepers (Batavia, N.Y./Radulphus College), Kennedy Solymosi (Eastlake, Ohio/Lake Catholic), and Molly Whaley (Erie, Pa./Villa Maria Academy).