BRIGHTON, Mass. – After allowing the game-tying goal with just over one minute remaining in regulation, Regis College pressured the Simmons University defense early in the second overtime period, converting on a shot to defeat the Sharks, 3-2, Wednesday afternoon in a rainy Great Northeast Athletic Conference women's soccer match at Daly Field.
The first overtime period took place mostly in the midfield until Regis started advancing the ball forward, with a shot by Kerri Urquhart (Burlington, Mass.) in the 98th minute corralled by Simmons goalie Melanie Colman.
Less than two minutes in the second overtime session, Kaylee Francis (Millis, Mass.) drew a foul just outside the Shark defensive box, but Noelle Garcia's (Los Angeles, Calif.) shot off the free kick sailed over the crossbar. Francis correctly read that the ensuing goal kick would be short, racing for the ball and chipping it past an aggressive Colman, and Garcia was able to follow the play and send the ball into the empty net for the game-winning tally.
With the score tied at 1-1 at halftime, Regis controlled play early in the second half, taking three shots in the first 13 minutes. Simmons took over, earning three shots of its own in the span of two minutes, but two shots were off-target and the third was saved by Pride goalie Ori Attridge (Westwood, Mass.).
In the 70th minute, Francis sent the ball towards the net, and Julia Walsh (Waltham, Mass.) was able to redirect it from the right post into the net for her first goal of the season. Regis kept Simmons from putting together a scoring opportunity until the final two minutes of regulation, when Emma Trahant found Nell Spencer in front of the goal, and Spencer was able to lift the ball over Attridge's head into the net to tie the contest.
Simmons (0-8-1, 0-5 GNAC) struck first three-and-a-half minutes into the match as Amber Nobbs sent a quick crossing pass to Izabella Warren at the top of the box, and Warren's shot sailed inside the left post into the net for her second goal of the season. The Pride started putting together offensive chances, as Rachel Kelly (Whitman, Mass.) took two shots in the span of 2:15 and Francis's opportunity in the 28th minute was stopped by Colman.
In the 35th minute, Payton Fitzgerald (Danielson, Conn.) sent a crossing pass from the right side of the field into the goal mouth. Brianna Gaynor (Peabody, Mass.) connected on a one-timer into the net for her third goal of the year. Fitzgerald had two chances later in the first half to put the Pride on top, but both shots sailed wide.
Colman finished the match with six saves as Regis outshot Simmons, 15-6, including a 9-4 advantage in shots on goal. Angie Caldwell (Goffstown, N.H.) started the match in net for the Pride and made one save before Attridge took over after halftime and played the rest of the way, earning her third victory of the season.
According to the Regis record book, this is the first victory for the Pride over Simmons in 10 meetings dating back to 1989. With her two assists in this match, Francis now has eight assists for the season, fourth on the program's list for assists in a single year, and she is now tied for third on the list for career assists with 13.
Regis (5-5, 2-2 GNAC) heads south to face University of Saint Joseph Saturday, Oct. 5, starting at 12 p.m. The next home game for the Pride will now take place Tuesday, Oct. 8, against Rivier beginning at 3:30 p.m., a change from the originally scheduled date and time. The schedule adjustment, finalized earlier Wednesday, comes as a result of the continued risk of the EEE virus carried by mosquitoes and the precautions taken by several area athletic programs, including the prohibition of outdoor activity after sundown.