SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. - Sophomore Ali Rossi scored the winning goal three minutes into the second overtime to give the Mount Holyoke College soccer team a 2-1 victory over Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) in non-conference action on Tuesday. With the victory, the Lyons move to 5-4 overall, while the Trailblazers slip to 4-6.
With the score knotted at 2-all following regulation, the two teams played through a scoreless first overtime, which saw MCLA hold a 2-0 shot advantage. Neither team could capitalize, setting the stage for the second overtime drama. Off a centering pass from first year defender Anne Shaffrey (Charlottesville, Va./Charlottesville), Rossi (New York, NY./The Churchill School & Center) went one-on-one with the keeper, dribbling around her and into the right corner for the game-winner.
Mount Holyoke opened the game's scoring just 14:57 into the opening half as Shaffrey, who assisted on the game-winner, headed in a well-placed ball from junior Kara Singleton (Parsonsfield, Maine/Sacopee Valley) for the 1-0 lead.
The Lyons made it a 2-0 advantage just under 10 minutes into the second stanza as junior Cassidy Robinson (Lebanon, NH./Lebanon) controlled the ball off the drop and shot toward goal. First year keeper Kathryn Daly (South Cairo, NY./Cairo-Durham) dove for the save but 
the ball slipped under her arm, rolling into the goal and crossing the line before defenders arrived to kick it away.
MCLA, which held a 10-3 advantage in shots for the second half, came back to tie the game aided by a goal and an assist from first year Natalie Caney (Belchertown, Mass./Belchertown). Caney laid a pass behind the defense towards first year Jackie Dwyer (Mohegan Lake, NY./Lakeland), who then sent the ball into the lower right center of the net to make it 2-1. Caney then finished one of her own in the 84th minute off a delivery from senior Jennifer Ferrari (Westfield, Mass./Westfield).
The visiting Trailblazers held an 18-11 edge in shots for the game, while Mount Holyoke had a 5-2 advantage in corners. In goal, first year Alyssa Tabrisky (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif./Kent School) picked up the win with nine saves, while her counterpart, Daly made four stops for MCLA.
The Lyons are back in action with the second of three straight home contests on Thursday against Amherst at 7pm, while the Trailblazers play at Fitchburg State on Saturday at 12pm.
Photo courtesy of RJB Sports Photography. Story courtesy of Samantha Campagna, Mount Holyoke Sports Information.
