Leopards Work Overtime to Defeat Chargers

(Courtesy of Colby-Sawyer Sports Information)

NEW LONDON, N.H. – The Wentworth women's soccer team scored the game-tying goal with under four minutes left in regulation and found the game-winner in the third minute of the first overtime to beat Colby-Sawyer, 2-1 in The Commonwealth Coast Conference action, on Monday afternoon.

The Chargers (7-6-3, 4-5-2 TCCC) took an early lead less than two minutes into the first half. Sophomore Sam Rober (Bedford, Mass.) took the ball down the left flank and ripped a shot on net, only to be denied by Wentworth freshman goalie Jess Gardner (Wilbraham, Mass.).  However, Gardner could not control the ball as it deflected off her hands right to the feet of Colby-Sawyer senior Laura Sansoucie (Haverhill, Mass.).  Sansoucie proceeded to put the ball into the back of the net for her third goal of the season.

The Chargers took a 1-0 lead into the break and held the advantage until the final minutes.  Wentworth (6-10, 5-6 TCCC) scored the equalizer with under four minutes to play when freshman Stephanie Crockett (Bedford, Mass.) was awarded a free kick from 40 yards out.  She sent the ball into the box, where several Leopards were waiting. Freshman Elizabeth Somma (Windham, Maine) snuck behind the defense at the far post where the ball found her head for the quick flick into the net. For Somma, the goal was her team leading sixth of the season.

Colby-Sawyer applied some pressure in the waning moments of regulation but could not get anything past the sophomore keeper Katherine Matthews (Northborough, Mass.) who had come on at the start of the second half.  Matthews finished the game with three saves over the final 47:20.

In the first overtime session, Crockett scored the game-winner when she snuck the ball into the left corner of the net past the dive of Colby-sawyer keeper Allie Piper (Barre, Vt.).  Senior Madison Watson (Overland Park, Kan.) found Crockett racing down the middle of the field with a beautiful through ball. With the win, the Leopards jump the Chargers for the eighth spot in the playoff race. Colby-Sawyer now trails the final post season spot by one point.

Colby-Sawyer plays its final regular season road match at Endicott at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday. The Leopards will host Regis at 3:00 p.m. also on Saturday.