Box Score

Despite a flurry of second half chances, the Albright College women's soccer team was held to a 0-0 draw with Gwynedd-Mercy in the Lions' Saturday opener of the Crusader Cup, at Alvernia.

Senior goalkeeper Olivia Giuliano came up huge as the Lions tired late, making game-saving stops at the end of regulation and in overtime.

It felt like an Albright winner was coming all second half as the Lions attacked time and time again. Junior Jordan Cassidy finished off a Mel Sullivan free kick with seven minutes left but the goal was called back for offsides.

Kim Harkins' dangerous long range shot in the 65th minute was headed away by a Griffins defender, and six minutes later Katie Cooper's perfect through ball to Stephanie Przybyszewski was called offsides.

Freshman Erin Hand went in on a breakaway in the 76th minute, but lost the ball trying to cross up the final trailing defender. With Albright in full control, a corner kick bounced to Cooper but she couldn't keep her shot down from eight yards out.

A minute after Cassidy's goal was disallowed, she broke free down the right side but shot high. Hand and Alex Talbot pulled off a nice 1-2 in the 87th minute but Hand's shot was saved.

Unable the grab the elusive goal, the Lions ran out of steam late in the game, leading to Giuliano's heroics.

With 2:15 left in regulation, GMC counter-attacked and Kasey Reid found senior Gwen Conte all alone in front of goal. Conte shot back across Giuliano, but she got down to her left to swat the shot off the line.

Gwynedd-Mercy's Christine Michalski had two golden chances in overtime, but missed the net twice after balls skipped through to her in the box.

Reid then played another great ball across to Conte in the 108th minute, but Giuliano somehow got her fingertips to what should have been a heartbreaking winning goal.

Albright is now 1-0-1 and will face Penn State-Altoona tomorrow at Alvernia. Kickoff is at 11 a.m. Gwynedd-Mercy is 0-1-1 and takes on the Crusaders tomorrow.