DOYLESTOWN (Pa.) – The Delaware Valley University women's soccer team scored three goals in a span of five minutes to take a one-goal lead in the second half, but visiting Bryn Athyn College battled back to tie the game in regulation and needed just 54 seconds in double overtime to steal a thrilling 5-4 victory over the Aggies.
It was the first setback of the year for DelVal as it dropped to 3-1, while the Lions earned their first win to improve to 1-1-1.
First-year defender Kathleen Cairns got the Aggies on the board early in the game as she took a free kick from 23 yards out and struck it over the wall and into the top-left corner of the net for a 1-0 lead just 1:38 into regulation. For Cairns, it was her first collegiate goal.
Just over eight minutes later, Bryn Athyn responded with a Maria Storck tally to tie the score at one apiece. Late in the first half, the Lions got goals from Tori Titano and Lindsay Kinsky, separated by just 4:16, to extend its lead to 3-1 at the break.
DelVal outshot Bryn Athyn 16-11 in the first half and had six corners to the Lions' one.
In the 54th minute, Jess Williamson found Rylee West open in front and she made no mistake as she potted her second of the season to get the Aggies back in the game.
That goal seemed to spark the offense as moments later, senior Serena Zilli let one go from just inside the 18 and beat the outstretched keeper to tie the game, 3-3. Less than five minutes later, Zilli put DelVal on top for the first time as she pounced on a bouncing ball in the box and headed it over the goalie's head and into the net for her second of the game and a 4-3 Aggie lead.
The Lions would not go down easy as it maintained pressure and Ashley Rivera struck a perfect ball that found the back of the net and tied the game at 4-4 in the 77th minute. Each team had two more shots down the stretch but neither cashed in as the game headed to extra time.
After a scoreless first overtime, Rivera needed less than a minute in the second extra session to ice the game. She took a nice lead pass from Joseline Tlapaya and let shot go from long distance that went over the goalie's outstretched fingers and into the cage for the game-winner.
Viola Anderson played the first 45 minutes in goal for DelVal and made two saves. Olivia Sherwood finished the game and made three saves with two goals allowed. On the other side, Gianna Juiliano made seven saves in the win for the Lions.
