Box Score CENTER VALLEY, PA – The Alfred University women's soccer team played in the first round of the ECAC tournament on Saturday afternoon. The Saxons (8-6-5, 2-3-2 Empire 8) took on host DeSales University in a wild match that went deep into penalty kicks as the Saxons prevailed.

AU was quick to get on the board when Natalie O'Brien (Syracuse, NY / East Syracuse Minoa Central) beat the DeSales goalkeeper to her left side in the fifth minute to gain a 1-0 advantage.

Action became stagnant for the remainder of the first half as the teams went into halftime at the same score.

The Bulldogs broke through early in the second half when Gabby Torchia scored off of a feed from Megan Foley to tie the game at one.

DeSales dominated opportunities off of corner kicks as they had six chances while Alfred had none but the Saxons held their ground and kept the game a 1-1 tie through regulation.

The overtime periods also went the distance without either team scoring and as a result sent the game to penalty kicks to determine who would advance.

The teams traded blows in penalty kicks as well but the Saxons were able to outscore the Bulldogs 9-8 to advance to tomorrow's second round matchup.

""Today was a fun game," Head Coach Craig Yanni said. "We got to face a really good DeSales team. The team battled for 110 minutes and executed the game plan that was put in front of them. We really stepped it up during PK's to make 9 out of 10."

The Saxons will be back in action tomorrow at DeSales University for second round play at 12PM.