EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. — The Warriors pulled off a last-second rally to fend off No. 7 Assumption's upset bid on Sunday afternoon, defeating the Greyhounds 2-1 in overtime.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Warriors got both goals late in the game, with junior midfielder Maddie Moline tying it and senior forward Rylie McGrath scoring the golden goal. For McGrath, it's already her seventh point of the season and third goal, while Moline's was her first of the year.
- Each of the goals was assisted as well, as junior defender Megan Rafter and fifth-year midfielder Elaiana Rivera-Lagalla were credited with the helpers. For Moline's tally, Rafter swept in an insert off a penalty corner for her first assist and third point of the year.
- Jet Vermeulen was the goalie of record for ESU, coming in at halftime and making two saves for her first win of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Assumption generated the first scoring chance of the game and scored the contest's first goal at the end of the opening frame. Sydney Pope came up with a save on Assumption's Marta Brzoska, keeping the game scoreless at 3:30 in.
- ESU was a man-up after Caroline Mastergeorge was assessed a green card nine and a half minutes in, getting its first look off a penalty corner shortly after. A point shot by junior defender Alex Bandura made it through traffic, but Abbie Derosier made the stop.
- Just over one minute before the end of the quarter, the Greyhounds quickly forced a turnover near midfield and began a counterattack. Brzoska made it past the last line of defense down the left side of the field, beating Pope to put Assumption ahead 1-0.
- Derosier and the Greyhounds' defense stood tall in the middle frames, neutralizing most possessions and limiting the looks the Warriors could generate. Senior forward Reagan Kunkle and McGrath each had shots on target, but the freshman goalie turned both aside.
- The Warriors had consistent pressure during the entire fourth quarter, outshooting the Greyhounds 6-4. Towards the final minutes, the ball stayed in the attacking zone for ESU, translating into a penalty corner with 20 seconds remaining. Rafter swept in the insert to Moline at the point, as Moline fired off a shot that found the back of the net to force overtime.
- Overtime only lasted 2:07, with ESU never surrendering a chance to the Greyhounds after starting with the ball. McGrath was stopped after another chance on a penalty corner, and fifth-year back Bella Viruet's mid-air shot just went over the crossbar shortly after. Once the Warriors regained possession, Bandura cycled the ball down the right to Rivera-Lagalla. The fifth-year captain found her counterpart in front of the net after drawing the defense over, with McGrath burying the chance for the game-winning goal.
GAME NOTES
- Officially scoring at 59:45, Moline's game-tying goal was the latest goal of its kind since the NCAA switched the game length to 60 minutes. The only goal closer to the end of regulation was scored by Kierstyn DeNardo against Kutztown in 2009, with the Warriors going on to win in overtime in that game too.
- The win marks ESU's 38th overtime victory, since they began being tracked in 2003. Rivera-Lagalla assisted on the most recent one as well, setting up Moline's game-winner at Bloomsburg in double overtime last year.
UP NEXT
The Warriors complete their season-opening three-game homestand this week, hosting Mansfield for a non-conference matchup. The game will begin at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at Whitenight Field.
