DAGRACA LIFTS SAINT JOSEPH'S PAST WOMEN'S SOCCER IN 2OT, 3-2

STANDISH, Maine – Senior Haley DaGraca (Saco, Maine) scored 1:21 minutes into the second overtime to lift Saint Joseph's College (10-2-0, 7-2-0 GNAC) past Emmanuel College (9-5-0, 5-3-0 GNAC), 3-2, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women's soccer contest at the SJC Athletics Complex on Wednesday evening.

THE LEAD

SJC freshman Kayla Gooch (Dracut, Mass.) and Emmanuel senior Kayla Generis (Wethersfield, Conn.) scored goals just 11 seconds apart in the first half with the 1-1 tie holding true until the 64:04 mark when senior Colleen Sheehan (Medway, Mass.) put the Monks back on top with her fourth goal of the season.

With time winding down, junior Kaylin Deschenes (Lynn, Mass.) provided the Saints with new life by scoring the game-tying goal off a Davignon assist.

THE REST OF THE STORY

The conference rivals swapped scores leading up to extra play, as sophomore Gooch opened the game scoring off a Kendall Dolan (Kennebunk, Maine) pass at the 28:20 mark. Just 11 seconds later, Generis tied the game off an Emma Johnson (Ellington, Conn.) dish.

The stalemate stood until the 65th minute when Sheehan hit pay dirt on a fast break off a Madeline Wood (Madison, Maine) pass, but the Saints managed to tie the game when a shot from Deschenes trickled over the goal line in the 81st minute. Saint Joseph's freshman keeper Adia Grogan (Kennebunk, Maine) got a piece of the shot but the ball slowly rolled in on a play that eventually forced overtime.

The Monks had the best opportunity in the first overtime as a McKenzie Murphy (West Baldwin, Maine) attempt was rejected by Emmanuel keeper Lexi Gawron (South Hadley, Mass.) and deflected off the crossbar at the 65:46 mark.

Finally, 1:21 into the second extra period DaGraca put the game to rest with the 17th game-winning goal of her career.

THE KEEPERS:

Grogan made a pair of saves to pick up her 10th win of the season while the Saints employed a pair of netminders in the loss, with Davignon getting the start and Gawron claiming the lion's share of time in goal. Davignon turned away two of the three shots she faced while Gawron posted four stops and allowed a pair of goals to suffer the loss.

TEAM STATS:

Saint Joseph's held the advantage in shots (18-8) and shots on goal (9-4) while Emmanuel held a slight 2-1 edge in corner kicks on the evening.

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:

After tonight's 3-2 overtime victory, Saint Joseph's is now 5-10 all-time versus Emmanuel College.

NEXT!

Both teams face off against GNAC opponents on Saturday, when the Monks travel to Johnson & Wales University for a 2:30 PM kick-off and Emmanuel hosts Anna Maria College at 3:00 PM.

*Release courtesy of Saint Joseph's College Sports Information