POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The Vassar College women's soccer team got an 82
nd-minute goal from
Emma Tanner (Florence, MA) to force overtime against Montclair State on Wednesday. The Brewers (4-2-1) then nearly won it when a
Rebecca Andrews (Los Altos, CA) header hit the crossbar late in the second extra session before settling for a 1-1 tie with the Red Hawks (4-0-3) at Gordon Field.
Each team had quality scoring chances in the first half. Montclair State's Emily Beenders hit the same crossbar in just the third minute of the contest, while Vassar got off two solid attempts after a corner kick in the 15
th minute. Neither side was able to find the net in the first 45 minutes, however, and the contest went into halftime scoreless.
Montclair State broke the deadlock early in the second half when Gabriela Tancredi flicked one past
Fiona Walsh (Hackettstown, NJ). Vassar got off several solid attempts before finally notching the equalizer in the 82
nd minute.
Sarah DeBenedictis (Norwell, MA) took a throw in and quickly found
Hannah Daley (Pompton Plains, NJ), who flicked it ahead to Tanner. She then chipped the ball over the goalkeeper's shoulder to knot the score. It was Tanner's fifth straight game with a goal.
Walsh made a pair of big saves early in the first overtime period, then
Dahlia Chroscinski (Hummelstown, PA) saw her header saved. It was still 1-1 in the 110
th minute when Andrews got free for a diving header that just clanged off the top of the crossbar just before the final whistle. This marked the second straight season in which Vassar and Montclair State played to a draw after finishing with a 2-2 result last year.
Tanner's tally was her team-leading fifth of the season. Daley and DeBenedictis, meanwhile, were each credited with their first assist of the year. Walsh (3-2-1) made four saves in 65 minutes of action after relieving
Camelia Manring (Indianapolis, IN), who stopped two Montclair State shots during the scoreless first half.
Tancredi notched her second goal of the season for the Red Hawks, while Michaela Knoblock was credited with her fifth assist. Madison Martino also assisted on the goal. Goalkeeper Lindsay Freewalt (4-0-3) tallied three saves in the game.
After starting the season 1-2-0, Vassar will take a four-game unbeaten streak into the start of conference play. The Brewers (0-0-0 Liberty) begin their Liberty League schedule by visiting No. 15 RIT (4-1-0, 0-0-0 Liberty) at 2 p.m. on Saturday.