Lasers Knock Off Brandeis in Double Overtime

NEWTON, MA- Sophomore forward Jamie Harris (Lynnfield, MA) scored the golden goal in Lasell College's 2-1 double-overtime win against Brandeis University in dramatic fashion today on Taylor Field.  Harris beat her defender and lobbed a high ball over the top of Brandeis' goalie after 105:55 minutes of women's soccer to move Lasell to 5-2 this season, while dropping the Judges, ranked 8th in New England as of the latest NSCAA Regional Poll, to 3-5.

Not a dent was made in the score during the first half as teams played an even 45 minutes of soccer. The midfield saw most of the action with just four shots being taken in the first 30 minutes of play, and only a total of 11 attempts produced in the half.  Defense was the catalyst to the scoreless period with the back field playing solidly on both ends.  Mary Kate Dunphy (Wareham, MA), Molly Clarke (Berlin, CT), and Jill Greaney (Holyoke, MA) carried the brunt of the work for Lasell's back line while for Brandeis it was Jessica Schulman (Redwood City, CA), Kelly Peterson (Houston, TX), and Ali Maresca (Wyckoff, NJ).

At the conclusion of the frame, the Judges had scarcely outshot Lasell 6-5 and also came up with more on-target balls, testing Lasell's goalie Elizabeth Stickley (Mashpee, MA) three times. Brandeis keeper Francine Kofinas (Dix Hills, NY) was tried out just once to collect one save.

After 27 more minutes, and 72 total minutes of scoreless soccer, Lasell's sophomore forward Sam Peck (Woodbury, CT) ended the stalemate.  At 72:12, Peck picked off a pass from a Brandeis foot and dashed down the center of the field, splitting two defenders as she faced the Judge's relieving goalkeeper Michelle Savuto (Ridgewood, NJ) one-on-one.  Savuto darted towards Peck on the breakaway, but Peck anticipated the challenge and drove the ball high over the diving keeper to put Lasell on the board, 1-0.

Brandeis did not surrender after the late Laser goal and ultimately scored the equalizer just ten minutes later.  Hilary Andrews (New Bedford, MA) headed in the tying goal off a curving corner kick by Alyssa Fenebock (Upper Saddle River, NJ), at 82:03. 

With time ticking down in regulation, Peck once again separated herself from the pack and cut down the field, replicating her earlier attack.  This time though, Peck was fouled inside the box on her way to the net, giving Lasell a penalty kick chance with seven minutes to play. Harris was presented with the task of converting on the chance, but Savuto made an outstanding save on the play and deflected away the free shot as well as two rebounded chances.  At the end of regulation, the score stood at 1-all.

Dramatic close-calls developed one after another in the first overtime session but neither team converted on their attempts.  The second overtime looked to be much of the same until the 106^th minute.

At 105:45, Harris chased down a deep leading pass and beat out her defender to come up against Savuto who was attacking the ball.  Harris lobbed a high shot which tipped off the goalkeepers fingers before bounding into the Judges net at 105:55 for the win.

The win marks five in a row for Lasell who returns to conference play this weekend with a Sunday contest at Mount Ida College beginning at 1:00 p.m.  Brandeis has the weekend off but will host Wellesley on Tuesday, September 27^th at 7:00 p.m.