The report says Aanya Davitt opened the scoring before Madison Labrunda doubled Mount St. Dominic’s advantage before half-time. That 2-0 lead should have provided control, yet West Essex responded strongly after the interval.
Taylor DelRusso reportedly pulled one goal back before Amelia Rasko completed the comeback. Makena Guzman also contributed an assist during West Essex’s revival, which transformed a match between the fifth seed and 12th seed into a tense knockout contest.
The key concern for Mount St. Dominic is clear: a commanding position was not enough to prevent the tie from reaching extra time. With neither side scoring in the additional period, the champions had to rely on composure from the spot.
Goalkeeper Isabella Raju reportedly made 11 saves, a contribution that kept Mount St. Dominic in the contest after West Essex’s momentum shifted. At the other end, Marlo Derian made 10 saves, underlining how closely fought the match became.
Mount St. Dominic converted penalties in the first, third and fifth rounds, securing the shootout 3-2. That execution provided the narrow margin the champions needed after surrendering their two-goal cushion.
The report says Mount St. Dominic will face Montclair, the fourth seed, in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. The champions’ reported 5-6-2 campaign makes another difficult tie likely, particularly after the West Essex scare.
The next test will centre on whether Mount St. Dominic can turn early control into a complete performance. Against Montclair, protecting a lead and maintaining concentration could matter as much as its ability to survive another dramatic finish.