SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (Oct. 10, 2012) – Despite goals in each half, neither Mount Holyoke College nor Connecticut College could grab the go-ahead tally as the two teams played to a 1-1 double overtime draw on Wednesday at the MHC soccer field. With the tie, the homestanding Lyons move to 2-8-2 overall, while the visiting Camels are now 3-6-2 on the season.
After an opening start to the game, which saw Connecticut College control a majority of the play, the Lyons grabbed the lead at the 43:49 mark after back-to-back corner kicks finally paid off. On the second corner, which was taken by senior midfielder Mallory Phaneuf (Manchester, N.H./Trinity), classmate Kiana Lussier (South Hadley, Mass./South Hadley) headed in the lofted shot near the post.
The Lyons turned up the head in the second half and tested Camels netminder Kristen Manville (Fairfax, Va./Fairfax) after she replaced starter Amy Lowitt (Baltimore, Md./Roland Park Country Day School), who played the first 67:05.
Despite carrying the momentum, the Lyons found themselves tied at the 61:07 mark as a breakaway by sophomore Rebecca Raymond (Lowell, Mass./Lowell) saw the ball carom toward the high far post and in. Connecticut College had a chance for the go-ahead near the end of the half as junior Aina Torres (Barcelona, Spain/Frederic Minstral-Tecnic) sent a shot in, but sophomore goalie Mackenzie Randall (Harwinton, Conn./Forman) saved it off her fingertips.
Neither team could generate much in the first overtime, but the Camels once again nearly won it in the final 20 seconds of the second overtime when first year Libby Thomas (Cumberland, Mass./Greely) fired in a shot, which Randall dove to stop and preserve the draw.
The Camels held a 34-3 advantage in shots and led 10-2 in corner kicks for the game. In goal, Randall made 15 saves for the Lyons, while Lowitt (1 save) and Manville (1 save) combined for two stops.
Mount Holyoke returns to action on Saturday, hosting NEWMAC-rival Wellesley at 1pm. The Camels are also in action on Saturday at NESCAC-foe Bates for an 11am match.
