Box Score ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Shannon Estes-Larkin has battled through injuries for her entire career at Eckerd College.
Perhaps it was learning to fight through pain and adversity that prepared her to step up in crucial moments. Whatever the reason, the results have been quite positive in the early portion of her senior season for her individually and the Tritons collectively.
Estes-Larkin's strike from just inside the box on Thursday night sealed a dramatic 3-2 overtime win over Palm Beach Atlantic at the Turley Athletic Complex and kept Eckerd (2-0-1) unbeaten on the season.
It was a good win for sixth-year head coach
Danielle Fotopoulos and her squad, which is already showing the benefits from a change in mentality for the new season.
"This year we were focused on we needed to do to be successful," she said. "We've got a really great system, and focusing more on us than on our opponents has been beneficial."
Last season, Palm Beach Atlantic defeated the Tritons, 3-0, despite Eckerd's holding an edge in shots.
That trend continued in the first 45 minute as Eckerd dominated possession but still found itself trailing at the break. PBAU's Haily Johnson broke free after a long ball played down the right sideline and set a hard shot over the hands of
Angelique Ulmer to the left post in the 11th minute for the only score of the half.
That goal held up for PBAU (2-1) until
Abby Sanchez recorded the equalizer in the 62nd minute. After a scrum in the box saw Sailfish keeper Kayla Wincko go to the turf, Sanchez chased down the loose ball and chipped it into the open net for her first goal of the season.
One minute later, a hand ball just outside the box gave EC a direct kick from prime position.
Taylor Tippett took the set piece from 20 yards out and curved a perfect shot into the upper left corner to put Eckerd ahead, 2-1.
The Tritons continued to control possession until the 80th minute, when some fresh PBAU legs turned momentum back to the visitors. After a couple of near misses, the Sailfish notched an equalizer of their own in the 82nd minute when a shot by Karina White was deflected to Bridget Wollrade at close range. Wollrabe quickly volleyed the ball past Ulmer, knotting the score at 2-2.
Neither team saw a truly good chance afterward, until Estes-Larkin dribbled free of the defense and ripped a left-footed shot that turned into a celebration soon thereafter.
"It feels amazing," she said of the game-winner, "but it was a team thing. I just had the opportunity [at the end]."
The Tritons controlled the ball for the majority of the contest out-shooting PBAU, 27-11, and held a 14-4 advantage in shots on goal.
Eckerd returns to action on Sunday, hosting Webber International (Fla.) at 7:00 PM.
NOTES AND NUMBERS: The Tritons have seven goals this season coming from six different players. Fotopoulos said in the preseason that the team's attack would be balanced, and so far she's been right...Eckerd now leads the all-time series with PBAU, 9-5...Estes-Larkin has scored two goals in the first three games of the season in each of the last two years.
