ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Scoring the golden goal with 17 seconds left in double-overtime to beat preseason favorite Navy is quite the start for Colgate Women's Soccer and the Lyndse Hokanson era.
Hannah Pinkus was the hero in Colgate's first game in 481 days, heading home the game-winning goal off a corner kick from
Ruby Diodati with just 17 ticks left in double overtime to give the Raiders a 2-1 victory.
The season-opening win was the first career victory for head coach Hokanson, who was introduced as the program's head coach in December 2019. Through the ups and downs, it has been full anticipation for this moment.
"I couldn't be more proud and happy for our group," Hokanson said.
"The conditions were very challenging, and they just continued to push, scrap and adapt. Nothing marks the sign of a never-say-die team like a game-winner in the pouring rain with 17 seconds left against a very good Navy team.
"For all of the emotions that led to this moment, I'm just beaming for them."
Colgate (1-0, 1-0 PL) scored on its first and last shots of the afternoon. The overtime winner broke a 1-1 stalemate that had been the score since midway through the first half.
Adrienne Vaughn got the Raiders on the board first in the 20th minute.
Emily Amano received a feed in the center of the box and slid a pass to the left wing, where Vaughn buried the first goal of the 2021 season.
Navy (0-4, 0-1 PL) held more possession in the first half and found the equalizer on a goal by Victoria Tran just over eight minutes later. The Mids held a 10-4 advantage in shots, but Colgate led 3-1 in shots on goal and the two teams were locked at 1-1 after 45 minutes.
Sophia Boggs made a pair of key saves in the second half and Colgate withstood three straight Navy corner kicks in the 65th minute.
Ruby Diodati fired a shot on target in the 75th minute, but it was saved by the Mids keeper in what would be the final shot on goal of regulation.
Neither side was able to find their footing in the first extra session. Both keepers made one save apiece in the second overtime before Pinkus netted the walk-off winner with just 17 seconds left.
Diodati served a perfect corner kick into the center of the box, where Pinkus one-timed it high into the netting to send the Raiders home with the 2-1 triumph.
Notes
• Colgate has now won its last two matchups at Navy, both coming from double-overtime golden goals.
• The Raiders beat the Mids 1-0 behind Mara Cosentino's winner in the 109th minute in October 2018.
• Navy outshot Colgate 19-10, but the Raiders put seven of those on goal to Navy's three.
• Senior keeper
Sophia Boggs made two saves to remain unbeaten, moving her career record to 8-0-2.
•
Hannah Pinkus,
Ruby Diodati, and
Mia Ciardiello paced Colgate with two shots apiece.
Up Next
Colgate is scheduled to make its home debut next Saturday when Holy Cross comes to town for a 3 p.m. kickoff from Beyer-Small '76 Field.
