Box Score

HAMILTON, N.Y. (8/19/12) – The Colgate women's soccer team opened its home schedule on Sunday afternoon against Syracuse and the Orange scored with 21 seconds left in overtime to beat the Raiders, 3-2, at Van Doren Field.

Colgate (1-1) got a great effort from Jillian Kinter, who had a goal and an assist in the loss. Lexi Panepinto tallied her first collegiate goal early on in the second half, which gave the Raiders a 2-0 lead. Ashley Walsh stood tall in net throughout the game with eight saves, including a couple down the stretch to push the game into overtime.

Syracuse (1-0) saw Alexis Koval tally two goals in the season opener for the visitors. Alyscha Mottershead contributed to the win with the gamewinner and an assist on one of Koval's goals. Brittany Anghel got the start in net and made seven stops to earn the win.

The Raiders struck first just 5:52 into the game on a rebound shot off the foot of Kinter. Catherine Williams fired a shot that hit her own player and deflected to Kinter, who tucked it inside the near post to give Colgate the 1-0 lead.

Colgate did have a couple of more chances to score later in the half, including Kinter striking one from outside the box from the left side that Anghel had to stretch out to stop. The Raiders dominated most of the play during the half, but the Orange did have one great chance off the foot of Mottershead. Fortunately for Colgate the shot was struck wide of the net. Each team had six shots in the half with three on net.

The Raiders came out of the locker room and continued to control the ball and it paid off as Panepinto snuck home her first collegiate goal in the 49th minute. Kinter did a great job in the box as she took on two defenders and the ball came loose. Panepinto jumped on it and hit the open net to make it 2-0.

Koval got her team to within one in the 61st minute after a couple of headers from Mottershead and Jenna Rickan. Mottershead headed a clearing attempt by the Raiders and then Rickan pushed it over to Koval on another header. Koval settled the ball and put a shot past Walsh for her first of two on the day. She struck again in the 75th minute as she broke in all alone on Walsh and the senior goalkeeper deflected the first shot off the post, but Koval stayed with it and connected on the rebound to tie the game at 2-2.

Both teams had chances to win the game in the final 15 minutes, including a great idea from Colgate on a free kick from around midfield. Chelsea Roche was lining the team up for a set piece and instead of trying for a redirection; she surprised everyone on the field and went for the net. She aimed for the top left corner, but it just went wide.

The teams went in to overtime and there weren't many great scoring opportunities until the Orange scored the gamewinner with 21 seconds left. Syracuse served the ball into the box and a scrum for the ball ensued. Mottershead was on the opposite side of the crowd and the ball squirted out to her and she hit the net for the 3-2 win.

The teams played evenly on the stat sheet with each team earning 18 shots with Colgate putting nine on net, while the Orange was credited with 11 shots on goal. The Raiders earned six corners to four for Syracuse. Offside calls were a factor today as a goal for both teams was taken away because the flag went up.

“There were a lot of positives out on the field today and we'll build upon those moving forward,” said Kathy Brawn.

Colgate will be back on the pitch on Friday night for a big matchup against the University of Washington at 7:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on Time Warner Cable Sports in Central New York. The men's soccer team will also be on TWCS beginning at 4:30 p.m. against Binghamton at Van Doren Field.

NOTES: Kinter scored her 19th goal in a Colgate uniform … the Raiders went to OT for the first time this season after going to the extra period twice in 2011 … Syracuse and Colgate went to overtime for the third time in the series … Walsh made eight saves, which was her season high in 2011.