EASTON, Pa. - On a rain-soaked Mike Bourger '44 Field at Oaks Stadium on Sunday afternoon, the Lafayette women's soccer team salvaged a draw with reining MAAC champion Siena with each side recording one goal in 110 minutes of action.
After 74 minutes without a score that saw excellent defensive play from both sides, senior Elizabeth Scoda was able to draw a free kick for the Maroon and White from about 20 yards outside the left corner of the box. Sophomore Katie Brannigan stepped up and fired a sinking curler onto the underside of the crossbar and into the net for the game's opening tally.
Siena responded in the 88th minutes as a long shot from Tara Sobierajski nailed off the crossbar and right to an open Kelsey Horst, who chested it in for the tying marker. The Saints hit another crossbar and a post in the first overtime session, but neither team could find a winner as the clock ran out on a 1-1 tie.
The result keeps the Leopards unbeaten to open their season with a record of 1-0-1, while Siena moves to 0-0-2 on the young campaign. The visitors led in shots, 16-6, and corners, 9-2, while Lafayette senior goalkeeper Danielle Sedillo put in a stellar effort with seven saves on the afternoon.
Lafayette came out looking for another early goal, similar to its score in the third minute against Delaware State on Friday. Scoda stole a ball in the Leopards' offensive zone and sent a through-ball to senior Kaelin King, but her shot was just wide to the right of the far post just 22 seconds into the game.
Two Siena chances off failed Lafayette clears in the 15th and 17th minutes forced strong defensive play as the Saints looked to get on the board. A 20-yard shot from Gabby Albano forced a strong save from Sedillo and a second, this time from Madison Vasquez, hit off the crossbar and had to be cleared off the six-yard box by Lafayette junior defender Olivia Heitz.
The game went into the break scoreless and just four minutes into the second stanza came another good chance for the visiting side. A cross into the box from the left resulted in a collision between Horst and junior goalkeeper Kelly O'Brien, forcing a defensive save on a rebound chance by Heitz. The collision forced O'Brien out of the game and brought Sedillo back on for the remainder of the contest.
Lafayette's offense began to come to life in the 52nd minute as a long run from King set up a through-ball opportunity for senior Monica Weiss. Weiss' shot was saved over the end line for a corner opportunity, but the ensuing chance could not be converted.
Brannigan's free-kick marker in the 74th minute was followed by a pair of excellent saves from Sedillo two minutes later as Siena pushed hard for an equalizer. The tying goal came in the 88th minute and both teams worked through the overtime periods for a result.
Lafayette hits the road for the first time this season on Thursday, traveling to Binghamton for a 7 p.m. start. The Leopards return home next Sunday, Aug. 28, for a battle with LIU-Brooklyn at noon.
