Top 10 Exciting Games of 2013-14 - #3 Women's Soccer Beats Rival Muhlenberg in Overtime
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- Moravian College continues its look back at its 2013-14 athletic campaign with the No. 3 highlight in the Top 10 Exciting Games & Fantastic Finishes – the women’s soccer squad defeating rival Muhlenberg College, 2-1, in overtime.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- Moravian College continues its look back at its 2013-14 athletic campaign with the No. 3 highlight in the Top 10 Exciting Games & Fantastic Finishes – the women's soccer squad defeating rival Muhlenberg College, 2-1, in overtime.
The Greyhounds and the Mules met in their final non-conference match of the 2013 regular season on a sunny HUB Quad field on Wednesday, October 30. The victory was the third straight one-goal win for the Hounds over their rival and the 14th time in 20 matches between the schools that the contest has been decided by a goal with Moravian winning nine of those games. It also marked the fourth overtime match in the series with the Greyhounds owning a 2-0-2 record in extra time versus the Mules.
Muhlenberg struck first on the opening shot of the contest, just 7:07 into action, on a goal in the upper left of the net. The Mules would add two more shots and a corner kick before the Greyhounds attempted their first shot of the afternoon.
Moravian eventually picked up its play and held a 6-4 edge in shots at the intermission but still trailed on the scoreboard, 1-0. Senior forward Caroline Clark had three of the Hounds' shots including a pair on goal late in the half.
"There were some alumni at the game that day, and I had them give the team a last minute pep talk at halftime," stated former Head Coach Brienne Smith. "It was actually pretty neat. Carli Miller Henichek, Neali Miller Feimster and Stevie Ochse spoke about how they got all fired up to play Muhlenberg when they were at MoCo and how they would kill to be back out there again with just one last shot to beat Berg. I think it helped change the game. The second half was all Moravian. It was one of the most exciting games of the season."
The Greyhounds came out inspired after the intermission and attacked the net. Sophomore midfielder Catherine Lamplugh put a shot on goal in the 52nd minute to start the Moravian press. Nearly five minutes later, senior midfielder Taylor DiSora put a shot on goal that was saved but Clark was standing at the left side of the net and put the rebound in the goal to tie the contest at 1-1 in the 57th minute.
"When Caroline scored, I was ecstatic," stated junior forward Kirsten Schall. "We have a huge rivalry with Muhlenberg so losing to them and giving them a point towards the Matte Award would not sit well with me. I knew if we had a little bit more time to settle down that we would be able to pull it off."
The Hounds kept the heat on with a pair of shots on goal in the next four minutes but the score would remain knotted at 1-1. In the next 20 minutes of action, Moravian had a 3-1 edge in shots but none would be on goal.
The Mules nearly pulled ahead in the 82nd minute but sophomore goalie Jaqueline Zalis made her only save after coming into the game at the beginning of the second half to keep the match tied.
The Greyhounds had the final chance to win the contest in regulation as Lamplugh blasted a shot from near the top of the 18-yard box, but the shot caromed off the right post to send the match to overtime.
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"Going into overtime the only thing I was thinking about was scoring," explained Schall. "This was a huge game not only for us, but for the alumni and the rest of Moravian."
Moravian didn't need long in overtime for the winning goal as Schall beat a pair of defenders and lifted a left footed shot that dropped over the Muhlenberg keeper in the upper left corner of the goal just 24 seconds into overtime for the victory.
"When I got the ball at my foot I knew I needed to do whatever it took to get the ball up the field and create an opportunity for the team," commented Schall. "When I realized how close I was to the goal, I knew that was my chance so I focused on just shooting it on target. When the shot hit the net, I was actually a little bit surprised because it was very early in the overtime, there were two defenders on me, and the ball was at my left foot. After that settled in I was so happy and so relieved. All of our hard work as a team paid off and we earned the point for the Matte Award."
Once the ball was in the net, the team rushed Schall on the field at the 18-yard box where she had taken the shot from.
"Being on the bottom of a dog pile may not seem very fun, but after beating Muhlenberg it was a blast," stated Schall. "That was a true celebration that everyone was able to share together."
You can check out the original game day story at http://moraviansports.com/sports/wsoc/2013-14/releases/20131030nf30s1.
Top 10 Exciting Games & Fantastic Finishes of 2013-14
#10 – Field Hockey Wins Back to Back Overtime
Games
#9 – Softball Walks Off in 10th to Earn Split with
Catholic
#8 – Baseball Walks Off Twice to Sweep Catholic
#7 – Football Scores 52 Points in Wild Win over
F&M
#6 – Baseball Sweeps Susquehanna in Two Extra Inning Walk
Offs
#5 – Men's Basketball Defeats Mt. St. Mary on Half Court
Buzzer Beater
#4 – Women's Basketball Tops No. 25 Scranton at Foul Lin
in Final Seconds
#3 – Women's Soccer Beats Rival Muhlenberg in Overtime
#2 – TBA
#1 – TBA
