BOSTON, Mass. – An own goal with 5:12 remaining in the second overtime lifted the Wentworth Institute of Technology women's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over the University of New England in a Commonwealth Coast Conference contest Saturday afternoon.
The win snaps a three-game losing and six-game (0-5-1) winless streak for the Leopards, who improve to 4-7-1 overall and 2-1-1 in league play. With the loss the Nor'Easters fall to 5-6-1 (1-3-0). This is the third home Saturday contest this season in which the Black & Gold have gone to double overtime (1-1-1).
Six of Wentworth's 10 first-half shots went on net, however junior Emily Ashman (Madison, Conn.) kept the Leopards off the scoreboard. Her counterpart, junior Christie Fleming (Braintree, Mass.) made four saves in the opening frame, including one in the 31st minute where she made a diving save going towards the near post.
UNE took a 1-0 lead with 6:07 left in the half. A Wentworth foul led to a direct kick 15 yards out on the left side. Senior Emily Certo (Grand Island, N.Y.) look the kick which was initially saved by Fleming, however, the rebound came out to junior Katie LaMarre (Pembroke, Mass.), who found the back of the net.
Wentworth nearly tied the game in the 50th minute as senior Samantha Mederios (Barrington, R.I.) took a shot which Ashman dove towards the far post to deny. At the 64:10 mark, the Leopards got the equalizer as senior Emily Richard (Fremont, N.H.) sent a pass across from the low left side to freshman Emma daSilva (Lowell, Mass.), whose shot found the right side of the net.
The first overtime saw the Leopards take three shots, two of which went on net, however, were unable to score.
The Leopards' golden goal came after Richard played the ball along the low right side, and, on an attempt to send a cross, the ball was misplayed by a Nor'Easter defender and into the net.
Junior Micaela Robinson (Goshen, N.Y.) made three saves over the final 59:48 to pick up the win. Fleming made four saves in the first half. Ashman made 13 stops in the loss. Wentworth had a 27-15 shot advantage and a 6-3 edge on corners.
Wentworth is at Western New England on Wednesday while UNE is at Gordon on Tuesday.
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