Oct. 23, 2016 Box Score
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - After 90 minutes of scoreless action between the Lafayette women's soccer team and Navy on Sunday afternoon in Annapolis, Md., it took just 33 seconds into the overtime session for senior Melissa Lynskey to find the back of the net, giving the Leopards a crucial 1-0 victory.
Lynskey's golden goal was critical in the Patriot League Tournament picture for the Maroon and White, giving them 10 points on the year with a 3-4-1 league mark. The win officially knocks Loyola and American out of contention and puts the Leopards two points clear of Army and Holy Cross for the sixth and final spot.
A win on Saturday for the Maroon and White, a Senior Night tilt with Colgate, would put the Leopards into the Patriot League Tournament for the first time since 2011. A loss or draw would require help from Army and Holy Cross, who battle league-leading Bucknell and Loyola, respectively.
Lafayette holds the tiebreaker over Holy Cross, so the only way they can jump the Leopards in the standings is with a win and a Lafayette draw or loss. On the other hand, Army has the tiebreaker over Lafayette, so a win for the Black Knights and a draw or loss for Lafayette would keep the Leopards out of the playoff picture. Additionally, with Lafayette's game set for 7 p.m. on Saturday night, head coach Mick Statham's squad will know exactly what they need to do heading into the tilt with the Raiders.
"My team amazes me with their character and spirit," Statham said following Lynskey's winner. "It was a wonderful team effort and to bounce back after deserving more out of Wednesday's game [a 1-0 loss to Lehigh] shows a lot about them."
Despite the stats with Navy holding edges in shots (18-8) and corners (4-1), the game was even throughout, played almost entirely in the midfield with all three keepers in the game forced into just one save apiece. Danielle Sedillo and Kelly O'Brien combined for the shutout for the Maroon and White, their third in the last four games, while Dayton Wetherby allowed the winner for Navy.
The first threat in the contest came in the 28th minute when Lynskey made a move on a defender and found space cutting back to the middle from the left side of the box. The senior fired a strong shot toward the near post that was saved just out over the end line for a corner. Off the ensuing service, the ball fell to classmate Julia Wescott, who fired a shot just outside the far post, narrowly missing out on an early advantage.
As the game moved through the halftime break, chances were few and far between from both sides before O'Brien kept the Mids off the board in the 57th minute. A ball down the middle of the field was played to Navy's Cat Macklin down the left side of the box. Macklin cut in to the middle and fired a shot, forcing a diving save to O'Brien's right to keep the home side off the board.
The game moved through to the end of regulation before needing just 33 seconds of extra time to find a winner. A collision at the top of the box on the left side between Wetherby and a Navy defender allowed the ball to drop at the feet of Lynskey at the top center of the box with the keeper pulled out of her net. The Leopards' leading scorer calmly slotted a ball into the right side to win it for the Maroon and White.
The victory gets Lafayette back to .500 overall on the season at 6-6-4. Saturday night's contest with Colgate will be the final regular-season affair for both squads as the Leopards will honor their eight-member senior class prior to the 7 p.m. kickoff.
