UAlbany Women's Soccer Battles Back from Two-Goal Deficit, Falls in Double Overtime 4-3 at Campbell
Box Score | Box Score (PDF)
Postgame Interviews - Nick Bochette | Alexa Schneider
BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The UAlbany women's soccer team stormed back from a two-goal deficit in the second half to force extra play, but fell 4-3 in the second overtime at Campbell.
UAlbany (1-1) was down 3-1 to Campbell (2-0) with 26:30 left in the second half. Kiana Rugar started the comeback with a goal in following 30 seconds, then Vivian Vega equalized the game with a goal in the 81st minute. Campbell's Payton Ormsby scored in the first two minutes of the second overtime to win the game for the home team.
“We are disappointed to have lost, but are extremely impressed with the resolve these young ladies showed,” said UAlbany acting head coach Nick Bochette. “If this is the desire and commitment this team plays with all season, I'm excited to watch how far we can go.”
UAlbany outshot Campbell 26-10 and had 12 corner kicks to its opponent's one in the game, with goals coming from Alexa Schneider, Rugar and Vega. Schneider added an assist, while Caitlyn Paltsios had two assists. Alana Brennan got the loss in goal with six saves in 101:44 of time.
Campbell's Ashley Clark netted a hat trick, also earning the game-winning assist. Alexis Connors picked up the win with 10 saves in 101:44.
The opening minutes saw each team try to establish connections in the midfield as neither side put together a set piece. Neither side got off a shot in the opening 12 minutes.
UAlbany went on a counterattack and pushed players to the box. On a pass inside, Vega got on a foot on the ball close range, which was stopped by a diving Connors. UAlbany got a couple of corners in the following minutes, which each being knocked away by Campbell.
In minute 17, Brantley kicked the ball towards a sprinting Clark across the center of the back line. Clark got past her defender and kicked a floater shot from just inside the box and scored over a jumping Brennan for a 1-0 Campbell lead.
Rugar got the ball on a following possession and got tackled just outside the box for a free kick. Krista Fitzpatrick fired a free kick towards the goal, missing right.
Campbell got another goal in the 24th minute as a ball was inadvertently headed to Clark in front of a defender. Clark raised her leg high and kicked an arcing shot that went just under the crossbar for the goal, making in 2-0 Campbell.
UAlbany stayed aggressive and kept getting corner kick opportunities, getting a chance in the 33rd minute. Paltsios kicked a low arc corner to a jumping Schneider, who headed the ball inside the right post for the goal, bringing UAlbany within one down 2-1.
UAlbany earned a couple more corners, but missed players on low attempts. Mariah Williams came off the bench and started finding space, firing on the goal a couple of times. A hard line drive in the 40th minute from Williams from outside the box slammed against the right post and out, nearly tying the game.
The Great Danes stayed on their offensive end and kept attacking on quick shots. Vega tried twice for the cage after a change of possession, with each being saved by the keeper. UAlbany went into the half down 2-1.
The second half saw UAlbany attack early, trying to drive down the left side against Campbell. In minute 51, a UAlbany shot was fired from outside the box and blocked. Schneider picked up the rebound and fired high.
In the 63rd minute, Clark picked up her third goal on a cross from the near side outside the box. Clark headed the ball over Brennan to make it 3-1 Campbell.
Rugar responded in strong fashion in the following seconds, getting the ball outside the box. The forward drilled the ball towards the left post as the keeper got hands on it but could not stop it, resulting in a goal to put UAlbany within one.
UAlbany fired attack after attack at the Campbell defense, coming up just short a couple of occasions. In the 81st minute, UAlbany finally broke through. Paltsios crushed a kick from midfield towards the box. Schneider passed to Vega one-on-one with the keeper, who tapped the ball right of the keeper for the equalizer goal to make it 3-3.
Campbell kept trying to push a lone forward down the side for attacks in the final minutes. Shannon Wratchford took a 20-yard chance towards the top of the crossbar, with a jumping Brennan saving the attempt.
UAlbany had one last chance in the closing minutes of the half as Vega got the ball off a counter for a turnaround shot, being saved by the keeper. The game went into overtime.
The two sides picked up the tempo in the golden goal first period, with Campbell getting into the box a couple of times. Clark sprinted down the left side with a defender on her right. Brennan charged at her and blocked a line drive shot, with Celia Balf kicking the ball away.
UAlbany saw its best chance in the first overtime with under two minutes left with Paltsios getting corner kick, but the cross went out of bounds before UAlbany could get an attempt.
Into the second overtime, UAlbany knocked away a corner kick to the far side. Clark arced the ball back into the box. Brennan fell trying to grab the ball, where Ormsby kicked and scored 1:44 into the second overtime for the golden goal.
UAlbany will return to New York to compete in Syracuse for its next two contests, taking on Colgate at the SU Soccer Stadium on Friday, August 28th at 4 p.m.
