SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – First year Olivia Holt fired in the game-winning shot in the 95th minute to lead the United States Coast Guard Academy to a 1-0 overtime victory at Mount Holyoke College on Tuesday in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC).
The Bears move to 6-6-1 overall and are now 2-4-0 in conference play, while the Lyons slip to 8-4-1 with a 3-2-1 mark in the NEWMAC.
Controlling play to open the overtime session, Coast Guard junior Terry Netusil (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) settled the ball and sent a cross through to Holt (Louisville, Ky.). Shifting the ball to the right, Holt fired a long shot past the reach of Lyons keeper Zoe Marshall (Mississauga, Ont./Cawthra Park Secondary School).
It was an even game to open things in the first stanza as the Bears held a slight edge in shots, 9-6. Mount Holyoke saw its best opportunity come in the 22nd minute as first year forward Sara Sanaú Ruiz (Zaragoza, Spain/P.P. Dominicos – Cardenal Xavierre) worked the near side corner and battled around not one, but two defenders, before splitting the line at the right side and sending a shot in that was saved by first year Rachel Boohar (Oxford, Pa.).
Coast Guard took control in the second half of action, firing a number of shots in on Marshall. Senior forward Sarah Hills (Brooklyn, N.Y.) had a number of the chances, including a great shot that went just wide after splitting the Lyons defense.
Netusil nearly made it a 1-0 lead in regulation when her shot through traffic in the 60th minute sailed toward the left side. Marshall dove and just touched the ball away with her right hand to preserve the tie.
Despite a number of chances for the Bears, who held a 14-3 edge in shots for the period, the teams headed into overtime where Holt secured the win.
Boohar earned the victory, stopping three shots for the Bears, while her counterpart, Marshall, made 10 saves on the evening.
The Lyons are back in action on Saturday when they host Wheaton College in a 12pm match. Coast Guard returns to the pitch on Tuesday in a 4pm contest at Salve Regina.
