WORCESTER, Mass. (Oct. 22, 2011) – Despite first half goals from first year forwards Amber Legare and Cassidy Robinson, the Mount Holyoke College soccer team suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 double overtime setback against Clark University this afternoon at Granger Field.
After a wild first half that saw two goals by both sides, the teams went scoreless until the early stages of the second overtime period, when junior forward Hannah Moriarty found the back of the net off an assist from sophomore midfielder Janelle Pasternack. Her second tally of the year came at the 102:24 mark and clichéd a spot in the NEWMAC Tournament for the Cougars.
Mount Holyoke jumped out to a 1-0 advantage in the 18th minute, when Legare used a feed from senior midfielder Mary Cooke to net her third goal in as many matches.
Sophomore forward Afra Danai got Clark on the board with her team-leading sixth goal of the year at the 34:26 mark. After collecting a cross from junior midfielder Hana Chamoun, she fired a shot past first year goalkeeper Mackenzie Randall.
Mount Holyoke responded 20 seconds later, when, Cassidy Robinson scooped up a bobbled ball by senior goalkeeper Audrey Eisemann and knocked in her first collegiate goal.
Refusing to go away, the Cougars once again tied things up with just under five minutes remaining in the opening period. This time, sophomore defender Jennifer O'Rourke scored off a pass from first year midfielder Charlotte Mays.
From there, Moriarty sealed things with her golden goal in the opening minutes of the second overtime period.
Clark finished with advantages in both shots (28-6) and corner kicks (14-1). Eisemann needed to make just one save en route to the win. Meanwhile, Randall turned away 10 shots for the Lyons.
Mount Holyoke (4-9-0, 2-5-0 NEWMAC) will put the finishing touches on its 2011 season with a pair of home contests this week. After facing off against the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m., the Lyons will entertain Springfield College on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. They have been eliminated from postseason contention.
Inside Photo by Leila Quinn '12
