Women’s soccer edges Saint Vincent in overtime
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Juniata College senior Shannon Pierce’s (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown) overtime goal lifted the Eagles to a 2-1 win over Saint Vincent College, Tuesday evening at Detwiler Field in Huntingdon, Pa.
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Juniata College senior Shannon Pierce's (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown) overtime goal lifted the Eagles to a 2-1 win over Saint Vincent College, Tuesday evening at Detwiler Field in Huntingdon, Pa.
Pierce gained control of a loose ball at the middle of the 18-yard box, and beat Saint Vincent keeper Kirstie Mills to the top right corner of the goal in the 94th minute of play.
Juniata (1-3-0) had to come from behind to post the win. Saint Vincent (0-4-0) took a 1-0 lead into the intermission, after Leanna Seminsky beat Eagle keeper Lauren Auster-Gussman (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Country Day) in the 38th minute.
The Eagles appeared to tie the game in the 43rd minute, when Maura Collins (Painted Post, N.Y./Corning-Painted Post West) volleyed a cross from Katie Young (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon Area) into the Saint Vincent goal. However Juniata was called offsides on the play, nullifying the goal.
Juniata had to wait until the 50th minute before pulling even with Saint Vincent. Junior forward Erin Eddinger (Barto, Pa./Boyertown) picked up a cross from the right side from Young and buried a shot behind Mills.
Neither team was able to solve the opposing keeper in the remaining 40 minutes of regulation, forcing the overtime session. Juniata again had an apparent goal negated with an offsides call, this time in the 93rd minute, before Pierce brought the contest to a close barely a minute later.
"Better ball movement and better ball control allowed us more chances in front of the Saint Vincent goal," said Juniata head coach Scott McKenzie. "We saw a glimpse of the offensive spark we need to carry us through the rest of the season."
Juniata outshot Saint Vincent, 20-9, and had a 7-1 advantage in corner kicks. Auster-Gussman finished the day with five saves, while Mills also recorded five saves in the losing effort.
Juniata begins a four-match stretch of road games, starting Saturday, Sept. 12, when the Eagles face the University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg.
-30-