SAINTS FALL TO #18 WHEATON, 5-4, IN OVERTIME
Oct. 12, 2011
BOSTON, Mass. - The Emmanuel College Women's Soccer Team took Wheaton College into overtime on Wednesday night, before falling to the Lyons, 5-4, in non-conference action played on Clemente Field. The Lyons, who were ranked 3rd in New England and 18th nationally in the most recent poll, got a scare from the Saints. Lyons' senior forward Kaitlyn Mawicke (Trumbull, Conn.) netted her second goal of the game in the 94th minute to upend the host Saints.
Emmanuel came out hard early in the game and struck first with junior forward Meghan Zerba (Cumberland, R.I.) netting a goal on the Saints' first shot of the game. Zerba played in a cross from the left side by Lindsey Garvey (Warwick, R.I.), scoring in just the 4th minute of the game. The Lyons retaliated just 91 seconds later. Wheaton's junior forward Cassey Muse (Candia, N.H.) hit her first of two goals on the night, taking a cross from Emily Vincunas (Granville, Mass.), and tying the game at 1-1.
The action packed first half, featured another Emmanuel goal coming before the ten-minute mark. This time, Garvey received the feed from Zerba and played the ball beautifully into the top left corner of the net. Garvey's marker, her 12th of the season, came at 8:16 and Emmanuel led, 2-1.
The Saints carried the one goal edge into the 25th minute, but Wheaton was able to knot things up again. Muse fired a shot off Saints' goaltender Jessica D'Ottavio (Pawling, N.Y.) and played in the deflection for her second goal of the night, tying the game at 2-2.
Emmanuel would score once more before the half expired. Sophomore forward Darcey Sullivan (Dalton, Mass.) received a perfectly played cross from Brittany Ridge (Portland, Me.) and one-timed it into the back of the net. Sullivan's goal was her first of two on the night and gave the Saints a 3-2 lead heading into the break.
The Lyons would knot the contest again at 3-all in the 54th minute. Vincunas got in on the action with an assist from Mawicke, scoring her 3rd goal of the season. Scoreless soccer was played for the next twenty-five minutes, as the pressure and intensity increased.
Emmanuel's sophomore midfielder Ashley Cervin (Milford, Conn.) took a shot that was stopped by Lyons keeper Lindsay Leddy (Warwick, R.I.). Sullivan was there for the rebound and played the ball into the back of the net to once again put the Saints on top, as Emmanuel led 4-3 with 12 minutes remaining in regulation.
Wheaton netted another equalizer just two minutes later, when Mawicke scored off a cross from Samantha Cronin (Wethersfield, Conn.). The pressure-filled game entered overtime with the contest knotted a 4-all.
Mawicke took just four minutes to find the back of the net again, taking a feed from Joy-Marie Fernandes (Woburn, Mass.) for the game-winner and her 4th goal of the season, as Wheaton pulled out the 5-4 victory.
Wheaton out-shot Emmanuel, 32-15 on the night, taking 20 shots on goal to just 6 by the Saints. D'Ottavio gave stellar effort in net for Emmanuel, making 15 saves. Erin Cawley (West Springfield, Mass.) played the first half in goal for the Lyons, making 1 save. She was relieved at halftime by Leddy, who picked up the win, making 1 save in the effort.
The loss dropped Emmanuel to 8-6-1 on the season, extending the Saints slide to three games. Wheaton improved to 11-1-2 with the victory. Emmanuel will return to Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play this Saturday, when the Saints host Albertus Magnus College in a noontime start.