Box Score COLUMBUS, Ga. - For a team full of newcomers, the early-season schedule for the Eckerd women's soccer squad was expected to be challenging.
The Tritons proved to be up to that challenge by finishing a three-match trip to Georgia with a 1-0 overtime win over No. 18 North Alabama at the Columbus State Invitational.
Eckerd (2-1) outshot its opponent for the third straight game and got another fantastic defensive effort from the back four and freshman keeper
Casey Winn, who posted her second clean sheet in the Sunday victory.
"We worked on defensive shape all preseason," said EC head coach
Danielle Fotopoulos. "The girls work really hard together to be disciplined. Casey made some great saves for us as well."
However, the Tritons were unable to put away any of their 14 shots in regulation, sending the contest into overtime where EC finally broke through in the 97th minute.
Leah Chisolm flicked a pass over the UNA back line and
Kayla Gray did the rest, out-racing the Lions' keeper to the ball and chipping it over her into the net for the golden goal.
It was the third straight 1-0 result in as many matches for Eckerd, which defeated Auburn-Montgomery on Thursday and lost to West Alabama on Friday.
Today's match marked the first time in Fotopoulos' tenure that the Tritons knocked off an NSCAA Top 25 opponent. Last year, Eckerd played to a 1-1 draw with No. 15 Nova Southeastern.
Eckerd gets little rest before returning to the field on Tuesday, paying a visit to Southeastern (Fla.) University for a 6:00 PM kickoff in Lakeland, Florida.