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KENTWOOD, Mich. – Letesha Cannonier's two goals and Paige Eli's overtime goal propped the #3 seed Panthers over #6 Madonna University in the quarterfinals of the WHAC tournament. Falling behind on two different occasions Davenport scrapped their way back to force overtime and an eventual 3-2 win. DU will now advance on to the semifinals Saturday in which they will take on #2 Siena Heights.

The first half was controlled mainly by the Madonna offense as they accounted for nine shots on goal compared to DU's four. At the 24:19 mark the Crusaders took the early 1-0 lead when Lilliana Serratos took an open ball on the right side off a free kick and lofted it into the back of the net.

Battling through injuries the Panther offense slowly started to wake up in the second half starting with Letesha Cannonier at the 53:44 mark. The freshman was in the right place at the right time when she headed a long cross from Paige Eli to tie the game at 1-1.

Thirteen minutes later Madonna's Serratos picked up her second goal of the game off a deflected save from Catherine Howard. Down 2-1 and time ticking away in the game and the Panthers' season, Cannonier beat her defender and tallied her tenth goal of the season and second of the game with ten minutes remaining.

The 2-2 tied would remain until the end of regulation and force sudden death overtime. DU needed only six minutes of extra time for Paige Eli to take a Matalie McHale pass into the back of the net to give them the playoff victory and advancement to the semifinals of the WHAC tournament. 

Ashley Roth and Catherine Howard played major roles in stopping the Madonna offense tonight with Howard finishing with eleven saves and recording her school record tenth win in net for DU.

The victory tonight advances DU to the semifinals of the WHAC tournament in which #2 Siena Heights will host on Saturday. Game time in Adrian, Mich. is still to be determined but stay tuned to www.dupanthers.com for tournament updates.


Post-Game Quotes – Letesha Cannonier and Paige Eli

Cannonier on her second goal of the game: “I was on the back of the shoulder of the defense and the ball came and it was a small one and I saw the opportunity to go and was able to place it into the corner of the net.”

Eli on game winning goal: “I missed a chance earlier and didn't finish it so when the next opportunity came I had to take it and was able to find the back of the net…it was the best feeling ever. Now it means one of our seniors can continue her season onto Saturday in the semifinals of the WHAC tournament.”


Post-Match Notes

Catherine Howard picked up her 10th victory in net for the Panthers which sets DU's individual and career record for wins…Howard's 11 saves puts her at 124 on the year and now moves her into first place in the DU record book for saves in a season that was previously 121…Paige Eli's game winning game goal is her third of the season and Cannonier moves into second all-time for goals in a season with ten…Davenport is 2-0 against Madonna this year and 4-0-1 all-time under Chris Allen


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