BALTIMORE – Lexi Mitchell's first career goal was a walk-off winner in the 108th minute and the Colgate women's soccer team knocked off Loyola 1-0 in double overtime on Saturday.
Needing a win to stay alive, Colgate answered the bell in dramatic fashion. The two teams played back-and-forth soccer for over 100 minutes before Colgate finally broke through with the golden goal. Mitchell found the back of the net earlier in the second extra session, but the goal was negated due to a foul inside the box.
With another corner kick in the 108th minute, Mitchell made this one count.
Abby Sotomayor spun a cross to the center of the box, where Mitchell was the first to it and one-timed a header into the netting for the game-winning goal with just 2:33 left in the game.
Sophia Boggs made the golden goal possible, playing lights out again in net with five saves to tally her third clean sheet of the season. Boggs has racked up 16 saves without conceding a goal in over 400 minutes this season.
Loyola (6-7-3, 3-2-3 Patriot), currently in second place in the Patriot League standings, had its best possessions right out of the gates as Colgate was forced to defend two corner kicks in the opening minutes. Boggs was up to the task, shuffling to her right to scoop up a one-timer for her first save in the sixth minute. She notched another in the 11th minute on a quick turnaround shot from Sarah Bayer.
Adrienne Vaughn generated an early chance for the Raiders.
Ruby Diodati and
Hannah Pinkus linked up to approach the offensive third before Vaughn collected a quick pass on the right side and cranked a rocket on target that Paige Sim snagged out of the air for her first save.
The next flurry of opportunities came midway through the frame when the Raiders earned four corner kicks over a five-minute span. Sotomayor rifled a shot on goal and
Leah Lewis fired a shot just wide but Colgate was unable to cash in on the restarts.
The Raiders held possessions in dangerous scoring areas down the stretch but neither side was able to capitalize before the break. Boggs and Sim tallied three saves apiece in a seesaw opening half that ended with both teams still searching for the game's first marker.
Sydney Maxson set up an early second-half opportunity after a foul at midfield handed her a free kick. Maxson drilled a long ball into the box and it settled toward the right post but a Greyhound defender deflected it just wide to end the threat.
Boggs turned aside Loyola's best chance on a spectacular diving save in the 73rd minute. A through ball entered the box and Lewis headed it high into the air before Sarah Mirr handled the loose ball and drove a high shot toward the right post. Boggs left her feet to make a full-extension diving save and snagged it with both hands to turn possession the other way.
Dom DeMarco nearly netted the opening goal late after a long through ball found its way into the box. DeMarco connected on a header to redirect a shot toward the left post, but Sim was in position for the save in the 82nd minute. That would be the final chance in regulation as the two teams were destined for overtime with the match still scoreless.
Colgate (4-8-4, 2-3-3 Patriot) surged early in the first extra period.
Ellis Miller had a shot blocked before Sotomayor blasted a long-range shot on frame in the 94th minute. The Greyhounds earned three corner kicks down the stretch, but the Raider back line held.
The Raiders dominated possession in the second overtime and finally broke the scoreless draw with less than three minutes left to stay alive in the Patriot League Tournament race.
BOTTOM LINE
Colgate 1, Loyola 0 (2OT)
QUOTES
Head Coach Kathy Brawn
On the game:
"It is always encouraging to be coaching a group that stays relentless and unified throughout a season. Today, against a very good Greyhounds side, we showed a level of grit and determination that was impressive to say the least.
"
Sophia Boggs was solid in goal, and everyone did what was necessary in the moment to be effective. Lexi stepping in and scoring the game winner off of Abby's corner, after her first one was negated by a foul, was just incredible.
"This team continues to improve and grow with each opportunity. Time now to enjoy the moment, recover, and prepare for Saturday."
NOTABLES
- Boggs in three starts this season has posted three shutouts.
- She improved to 7-0-2 all-time and has six shutouts in eight career starts.
- Colgate as a team registered its fourth straight shutout.
- The Raiders have not conceded a goal since Oct. 12, a stretch that spans over four games and nearly 400 minutes.
- Mitchell's goal was her first career marker and she became Colgate's eighth different goal scorer this season.
- Sotomayor's assist was her third of the campaign.
- Colgate is now 6-1-1 all-time against Loyola and has won five straight.
- The Raiders also got two helpful results they needed around the league on Saturday.
- Colgate trails Holy Cross and Lehigh by just one point for sixth place in the Patriot League standings with one regular-season game left.
UP NEXT
Colgate closes out the regular season next Saturday when the Raiders host Army for Senior Day at Beyer-Small '76 Field. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m., with the Raiders honoring their seven seniors prior to the match. Patriot League Network is producing the livestream.
