Box Score
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Junior forward
Arie Anahory sustained a torrid offensive streak early in the season as the Eckerd College women's soccer team held off Johnson & Wales University on Saturday night at the Turley Athletic Complex, 2-1.
But for the second straight game, the Tritons (2-0-0, 0-0-0 SSC) had to play the waiting game with Mother Nature as another lengthy lightning delay preceded a home victory.
This time around, a pair of separate stoppages of play resulted in a total duration of four hours and 16 minutes when the final horn sounded. The Wildcats (1-1-1, 0-0-0 TSC) were rejuvenated by the breaks in play and put the pressure on the EC defense as time wound down in regulation.
The first weather delay spanned 38 minutes before teams were ushered again off the field for a break that lasted nearly another hour and a half.
Anahory scored both goals in unassisted style for the Tritons after EC toppled Georgia Southwestern State University on Thursday in another weather-riddled non-conference affair.
"Throughout the past two rain delays it's difficult to stay focused because it's hard to get pumped up for the game and then go out and lose all momentum gained," said Anahory. "When we came back out in the first half, it was more playing with heart and energy rather than focus."
"It is part of the game of soccer and the other team had to sit through it too, but we were fortunate to come away with the win tonight," she added.
In the 12th minute of play, Anahory patiently worked down the far side of the field, eluded one defender and unleashed a shot on target past the outstretched fingertips of JWU goalkeeper Cailyn Rizzo.
But with the 10 o'clock hour bearing down and a final decision not quite made whether play would resume (rendering Anahory's goal in limbo as official), both teams took to the field at 9:44 p.m.
The second delay was effective at exactly 8 p.m. with 29:20 remaining in the first half. The first delay was just five minutes in after the opening whistle.
Following a Johnson & Wales foul on a wet turf surface, Anahory lined up a free kick just outside the top of the box and ripped home her second goal of the game and fourth score of the year.
Anahory already ranks in the top five among all players in school history in goals, assists and points.
The Wildcats wouldn't go away and after a shortened halftime, capitalized on a breakaway as Bailey Abrahamoff stole the ball near midfield and had EC defenders chasing her as she scored at the 57:54 mark of regulation.
Johnson & Wales had a couple of corner kicks in the waning moments that made the final seconds interesting, but the EC defense denied the game-tying opportunities.
The Tritons continue their six-game homestand to begin the fall with another non-conference matchup scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m. against Clearwater Christian College.
