Drew Picks Up Victory On Golden Goal

MADISON, N.J. - Sophomore Alyssa Goodman headed home the golden goal eight minutes into overtime to give the Drew women's soccer team a 3-2 win over Mount  Holyoke in the opening round of the women's soccer fall festival.  Goodman nodded in Chelsea LeDuc's header to complete a comeback win for the Rangers who trailed 2-0 heading into the final 15 minutes of regulation.  Kim Miranowic and Laura Zeiden also scored for the Rangers while Jacquelyn Archibald and Melanie Finn scored for the Lyons.  Drew improves to 2-0-1 while Mt. Holyoke falls to 0-1.

The first seventy-five minutes of play was a tail of finishing as the Lyons scored on their first two chances while Drew was unable to pick the Holyoke lock.  Drew had its first good chance not five minutes in as Laura Zeiden fired just wide off a rebound with her left foot.  Allison McCord drew a fine save out of Lyon keeper Elaine Harvey and Megan Fogarty blasted off the post moments later.

The Lyons, who managed just one shot in the first half, were far more efficient as Archibald turned in a pass from Colleen Richards in the 29th minute of play for a 1-0 lead for the visitors.  Drew continued to push forward, often camping all ten players in the Holyoke half, but couldn't punch the net.  In the 41st minute, Goodman laid off a nice ball for Kaely Phelps, but Phelps fired wide.  Miranowic nearly scored a great goal as she used a double cut back to get a yard of space in the box before ripping a left footed shot destined for the upper 90, but Harvey made a great save to deny her.

Having built up a 13-1 shot advantage in the first half, the Rangers seemed unlucky to be trailing and the Rangers felt even more hard done by after Zeiden fired hard off the post minutes in the second half and Goodman's effort off the rebound was saved by Harvey.  Holyoke's opportunism put the hosts behind by a pair in 59th minute as Melanie Finn pounced on a loose ball in the box for the Lyons' second.  It could have been even worse for the Rangers had Ann Mularz not made a diving save on one-on-one with just over 15 left in the game.

Cailin McGrorry nearly got Drew's first with a nice effort from long range, but again Harvey tipped it wide.  Next it was Zeiden, who having worked well to get another good chance, pulled it just wide of goal.

The Rangers finally put the ball over the line as Chelsea LeDuc's (right) corner fell to Miranowic after some confusion in the box.  The sophomore punched it home to get the Rangers on the board and ease some of the concerns.  That goal, along with Deirdre Burns' move to a higher position, invigorated the offense for another push for the equalizer.  Appropriately, it was Zeiden, a threat all day, who secured overtime for the Rangers.  Goodman sent a great through ball from midfield into the right side of the box, Zeiden finished low and hard to the far post for her second goal of the season.

Though Drew had a couple more chances, overtime was required to select the second half of the Championship game to be held on Sunday at 3:00 pm.

The Rangers dominated OT, pinning the Lyons in their half with only the threat of a long ball causing much concern for the defense.  After securing a corner kick with less than two minutes remaining in the first overtime period, LeDuc, who struck at least five great dead balls in the game, played an in-swinger into the box for Goodman, possibly the shortest player on the field, to head home with authority.  Goodman and the Rangers formed a relived pile-on in the box as the golden goal settled the contest.

The Rangers will face a strong Richard Stockton squad in the finals tomorrow after the Ospreys dispatched of the Arcadia Knights 2-0 in the Fall Fest's opener.  The Lyons and Knights will play in the consolation game at 1:00 pm.