ERIE, P.a.—In its first conference game of the season the Franciscan women's soccer team lost 2-1 to Penn State Behrend but not before they took the reigning conference champions into overtime. Last year the Franciscan team lost to Behrend 7-1 and the Lady Barons went in aware that it would have to turn up their level of play.

After both teams scored in the first half and neither scored in the second half the teams went into a 10-minute sudden death overtime. Behrend took possession of the ball quickly and scored with the first 2 minutes to end the game.

"We're not satisfied with the loss but we do see the good that came from this," head coach Clare McBane said. "It's a nice boost of confidence to take the conference champs into overtime."

Staying head to head with Behrend throughout the game the Lady Barons did not hesitate to attack the goal. In the first half sophomore forward Hannah Cooke was fouled inside the penalty box and drew a penalty kick for Franciscan.

Junior Ashley Ruttencutter, for the second time this season, stayed composed under the pressure of the penalty kick and sent the ball straight into the net. The goal gave the Lady Barons a 1-0 lead in the thirty-third minute but ten minutes later Behrend tied the game up off of a corner kick.

"At halftime I told the girls 'ladies, we're playing really well and have to keep doing exactly what we had been," McBane said. "We are getting shots on goal and just need to finish and continue to play really hard."

The team did just as their coach instructed, holding the Lions scoreless for the entire second half. The Lady Baron defense and junior goalkeeper Mallory Garthwaite played a large role in keeping the team in the game against Behrend's organized offense.

"Across the board our defense really made the difference in todays game," McBane said. "All four in the back seriously stepped up. We didn't have any defensive subs today because of injuries and they played the whole 90 minutes and didn't let up."

While pushing the Lady Lions to overtime was an accomplishment in itself, Franciscan wasn't able to hold of Behrend in the ten minute extra period. The Lady Lions were able to find an unmarked player in the top right corner of the box, who put a quick shot into the far corner of the net.

After staying so close with the the defending conference champs, the Lady Barons look to move on to the rest of their conference games with determination and improvements.

"We will take this and learn from it but this being our first conference game of the season, playing the reigning champs I told the girls that they should be very confident from this game," McBane said.

Continuing in conference play the Lady Barons take on University of Pitt - Greensburg on Oct. 1 at home at 4 pm.