ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Patience paid off for the Eckerd women's soccer team on Wednesday, as the Tritons picked up their first conference win of the season defeating Embry-Riddle, 2-1, in overtime at Johnson Field.
Eckerd made good on its only two shots on goal and earned an exciting victory on
Paula Astiazaran's golden goal in the 94th minute.
HOW IT ENDED
Final: Eckerd 2, Embry-Riddle 1 (OT)
Records: Eckerd 2-4 (1-2 SSC), Embry-Riddle 3-4 (1-3 SSC)
All-Time Series: Embry-Riddle leads, 5-2
HOW IT HAPPENED
* Both teams got off to a bit of a slow start, as Eckerd didn't get a clean look until late in the first half.
Kayla Gray looked to break the deadlock in the 31st minute as she battled through three defenders inside the box and fired off a shot, but it sailed over the crossbar.
* Gray, however, redeemed herself 10 minutes later, breaking the stalemate and giving Eckerd a 1-0 lead.
Abby Sanchez slid a pass through the defense to the right corner where Gray sent in a brilliant ball, bending the shot into the left-side netting of the goal.
* Eckerd entered the half with a 1-0 lead. However, Embry-Riddle quickly evened the score in the second half. In the 56th minute, Emmie Johansson knotted up the game at 1-1 sending in a header past keeper
Casey Winn off a short cross from Annie Gelnaw, who found Johansson unmarked inside the six-yard box.
* Neither team was able to take the lead in regulation despite a few quality shots. In the 74th minute, Embry-Riddle's Elvira Ramel broke free and fired an uncontested shot, but Winn shut down the attempt with an impressive save. Minutes later,
Marie Zeidler broke free for a clean look from the left side but her shot sailed wide.
* Three minutes into overtime, Sanchez sent a pass down the left side to Astiazaran, who touched the ball past her defender and broke free inside the box. Getting the space she needed, Astiazaran deftly placed a shot inside the near post for the golden goal.
NOTABLE
* Embry-Riddle outshot Eckerd, 16-6. Eckerd only placed two shots on goal but made them count by converting both.
* Tonight's match was EC's first overtime contest of the season. Last year, Eckerd went into overtime on five occasions.
* Astiazaran's overtime goal was her first career goal as a Triton.
* Winn had six saves, her second-highest total of the season. She stopped nine shots in the season opener against Auburn-Montgomery on August 31.
UP NEXT
Eckerd will continue conference play on Saturday, traveling to Lynn for a 6:00 PM start. Lynn defeated Rollins tonight, 2-0, improving to 2-0 in the SSC.
