Oct. 4, 2014

(4-7-0, 1-3-0)  

  1 2 OT1 OT2 F  Lafayette 0 2 0 1 3 Holy Cross 0 2 0 0 2  Box Score

(9-2-2, 1-2-1)  

 

EASTON, Pa. – Senior co-captain Jaclyn Giordano tallied two goals and sophomore Kaelin King posted the gamewinner as the Lafayette women’s soccer team knocked off Holy Cross on Saturday afternoon at Mike Bourger ’44 Field at Oaks Stadium, 3-2, in double overtime.

With the game moving into its 103^rd minute of action and the score tied at two apiece, senior co-captain Alex Reisinger played a long ball up the middle that ricocheted off a few feet and was finally settled by King. King turned and fired from the right of the box, beating Holy Cross keeper Carly McCabe for the golden goal.

“This was a great game to be involved in and a really good advertisement for the Patriot League,” head coach Mick Statham said. “I’m really happy for the players. These girls have not always gotten what they deserved this year. Their training sessions have been outstanding and I’m just glad to see them rewarded for their efforts.”

The third goal of the game for the Leopards helped to earn them their first Patriot League win of the season, upsetting a Holy Cross team coming off just its first loss of the year at Boston U on Wednesday. Lafayette moves to 4-7-0 on the year and 1-3-0 in conference action, while the Crusaders fall to 9-2-2 this season and 1-2-1 in league play.

Despite a slow start to a game that didn’t see a shot until the 14^th minute, the Leopards controlled play from the opening kickoff, playing the majority of the first half in the Holy Cross defensive zone. Coming out of the break in a scoreless game, the first real chance came in the 55^th minute.

Working on an advantaged rush, Lafayette’s Joanna Scotti fed a short through-ball to the foot of Giordano, who had just McCabe to beat. Giordano’s shot went off the body of McCabe, hit the outside of the right post and trickled back into the arms of the Holy Cross keeper, keeping the Leopards off the board.

The first goal of the contest came just seven minutes later as a misplayed ball in the Holy Cross defense led to the opening tally. A Crusader defender trying to relieve pressure tried to play a ball back to the keeper for a clear, but did not play it with enough pace as Giordano found the ball before McCabe and sent it into the open net for the early 1-0 edge.

Just 15 minutes later, Holy Cross’ stellar freshman Aly Spencer beat Lafayette goalkeeper Danielle Sedillo for the equalizer. Sedillo came out of the net to punch a long free kick away from danger, but instead, her punch found the feet of Spencer, who placed a shot over the pulled-out keeper to tie the game at one apiece.

The game was not tied for long, though, as King worked her way down the left side of the Holy Cross defense in the 84^th minute. The sophomore sent a cross into the box that was deflected, throwing off the keeper’s run to make a play. The deflection allowed Giordano to get a foot on the ball on the other side of the net and finish for her second tally of the game and what looked like the gamewinner.

“When you have Jaclyn on the field, a senior, captain, all-conference-type player, it really gives the team a boost,” Statham added. “She dealt with some adversity to start the year, but fortunately for us, she’s naturally very fit, which allowed her to come back and play like she hadn’t been out for a while.”

Unfortunately for the Leopards, the Crusaders would make them work for this one as Holy Cross’ Annie Galvin got a touch on a corner sent in from Spencer to send the ball over the line with just 1:52 remaining on the clock to knot the game at 2-2 and send it to overtime.

With 1:30 left to play in the first overtime session, Giordano played the ball to a wide-open Scotti on the right side of the box. Scotti sent a beautiful shot toward the far-side netting that hit square off the post. Finally, King’s golden goal three minutes into the second extra session gave the Leopards the win they felt they deserved.

The game was an offensive affair with Holy Cross leading the way in shots, 22-13, and corner kicks, 5-2. Sedillo was excellent in goal, making 10 saves on the day to move her record to 4-5-0 on the year. McCabe made six saves for the Crusaders between the pipes.

Lafayette returns to the pitch next Saturday when it travels to Boston U. at 2 p.m