Roman's OT Strike Lifts No. 21 Women's Soccer Over Lowell, 2-1
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.- The No. 21 Merrimack
women's soccer team pulled off a 2-1 overtime victory against UMass
Lowell Wednesday night. The Warriors moved to 9-3-2 overall and
9-2-1 against Northeast-10 opponents. The River Hawks fall to 6-6-1
on the year and 6-5-1 in the league.
Merrimack fell behind early as UMass Lowell netted the game's
first goal less than four minutes after the opening kickoff.
Brianne Bozzella headed in a cross from Ella Merullo. The River
Hawks held the 1-0 lead going into halftime.
The Warriors tied the score at 1-1 on Jamie Alnwick's
(Groton, Mass.) first collegiate goal. Danielle Dion
(North Grosvenordale, Conn.) settled the ball on the
18-yard line with her back to the goal. Dion laid a pass back to
Alnwick making a run down the center of the pitch. Alnwick hit a
one-time shot low past the diving goalkeeper. The ball ricocheted
off the right post and into the net, shifting the momentum in favor
of the home team.
The two teams battled for a goal in the final minutes of
regulation but neither squad could bury one, sending the game to
overtime.
With under two minutes remaining in the first overtime period,
Merrimack earned a free kick on the edge of the penalty area.
Khara
Roman (Orange, Conn.) stepped up and laced a knuckling
shot towards the cage. The River Hawks' goalkeeper was baffled on
the dancing shot as she moved to her left but the ball swerved the
other way. The netminder was able to get a glove on it but
the ball still found the back of the net to give the Warriors the
2-1 win.
Merrimack out shot UMass Lowell 15-10 in the contest, including
a 3-0 margin in extra time.
Kiley
Horne (Scituate, Mass.) made three saves in the
winning effort for the Warriors. Micaela Butlin turned aside four
shots for the River Hawks.
With the win, Merrimack secures its 27th consecutive winning
season, improving their NCAA record. The Warriors owned the NCAA
Division II record for most winning seasons in a row heading into
the 2010 season with 26.
