ALTOONA, PA:  The very first game of the 2006 Penn State Altoona Fall Invitational certainly got interesting as neither team could find the goal through two halves and two overtimes.  It took a shootout for Marietta College to advance to the championship game on the shootout.

Albright out-shot the Lady Pioneers 18-9 but were unsuccessful in punching the scorecard.  Marietta goalie Jenna Freeman tallied 11 saves to preserve the tie and eventually advance. 

In the shootout, Marietta's Colby Cardwell and Rachel Ladouceur made their attempts before Albright's Erin Helm answered to make the score 2-1 Marietta after three kicks each.  A Dana Donchess goal for the Pioneers followed by a great save by Freeman punched the squad's ticket to the title game.

Marietta will face Penn State Altoona, who defeated Thiel 4-0, in the championship game at 2:00 on Sunday.  Albright will face Thiel at 10:00 AM in the consolation game.

GAME 2:       Penn State Altoona       4           Thiel College       0 

ALTOONA, PA:  Penn State Altoona women's soccer team has gone through a major restructuring from just one year ago.  The squad is dominated by freshmen, and, with 22 total players, boasts the biggest team in program history.  The squad started 2006 the right way, controlling Thiel the entire way en route to the 4-0 win to advance to the 2006 Fall Invitational championship game.

Georgia State transfer Heather Darnell was the main source of offense for the Lions, netting three of the four Altoona goals.  She pounded home a Danielle Collins corner kick at the 6:18 mark, scored on another corner kick in the 22nd minute, before taking a Brittany Bovard pass and beating the Thiel goalkeeper at the 69:12 mark. 

Darnell also dished out the assist on the only other Penn State Altoona goal, a tally by Bovard at the 65 minute mark.  The Lion defense was outstanding, holding Thiel to no shots in the entire contest.  This is the first year in the tournament's three year history that the women's team has advanced past the first round.

The championship game, against Marietta College, will be at 2:00 PM on Sunday afternoon.  Thiel will meet Albright in the consolation game at 10:00 AM.