WILMINGTON, De. (Sept. 19, 2023) - For the second time this week, Georgian Court held a lead late, but it slipped away in the closing minutes. Dominican evened the match at one last Saturday with less than 30 seconds to play. Today, Goldey-Beacom hit the equalizer with 2:29 left to tie the game 3-3.
How it Happened
• All stats indicate it was an evenly played game. Goldey-Beacom led 13-11 in total shots, but GCU was up 6-5 in shots on goal.
• The Lions had 10 fouls called with one yellow card while GBC also received a yellow card and were called for eight fouls.
• The Lightning took six corner kicks to the Lions three, with three of those coming in the final minutes of the game.
• Georgian Court got the first two shots of the game.
Aliya Canfield sent one high in the second minute and
Emily Clayton's attempt missed wide right.
• The lone score of the first half came from the Lightning. They earned a corner kick in the 10th minute. Jade Balon played it short to Alexa Pacheco who served it into the box where Samantha Emmi was waiting to head it into the net.
• There was very little action immediately following the goal. Just one shot in the next 25 minutes.
• The final 10 minutes of the frame saw a good chance from both sides.
Grace Konfederak had a shot inside the box, but right at the keeper who made the save.
• Emmi had a chance to make it 2-0 right before the half. She took a free kick from the middle of the field and 20 yards out but just put it over the crossbar.
• It looked like the Lions might have a chance to tie in the closing seconds, getting a free kick into the box, but were called for offsides before a shot could be taken.
• Starting the second half, it took the Lions less than a minute to find the equalizer.
Leticia Da Silva ripped one from about 35 yards out that tipped off the goaltenders outstretched hands and into the net.
• Following the goal, Goldey-Beacom went on the attack. They took two consecutive shots with
Carley Polchak making a leaping save on one. That earned them a corner kick, but the Lions cleared the ball out of their end keeping the game tied.
• The Lightning struck again in the 57th minute. A long pass from beyond midfield found Angela Lee inside the box. She passed it back to Mariah McQueen who's shot from the right corner of the 18 yard box was just out of the reach of Polchak, giving GBC the lead back, 2-1.
• GBC was issued a yellow card in the defensive zone. On the ensuing play,
Bridgette King shot low and to right from 10 yards out that tucked into the corner past the diving goalkeeper.
• Ten minutes later, the Lions took their first lead of the game. A turnover gave the Lions the ball at midfield. Da Silva lofted the ball towards the box that fell into nomansland. The GBC goalkeeper and a defender collided going after the ball which was tipped towards the net and tapped in by
Ashley Merizalde.
• The Lightning were on the attack with less than five minutes to play. After a number of shots were blocked, they finally got one through. Polchak made a save on one shot, but couldn't control the rebound which went right to McQueen who had an open net in front of her and tied the game with two and a half minutes to play.
• Goldey-Beacom had one more chance at the end, taking a shot from 30 yards out that went wide as time expired.
Lion Stat Leaders
•
Bridgette King took two shots and scored a goal.
•
Leticia Da Silva and
Ashley Merizalde each scored on their only shot attempt.
•
Jessica Ford picked up an assist.
•
Aliya Canfield led GCU with three shots.
•
Carley Polchak made two saves.
For the Lightning
• Mariah McQueen scored twice on four shots.
• Samantha Emmi added a goal on two shots.
• Angela Lee, Jade Balon and Alexa Pacheco all had assists.
• Nikki Cashin made three stops.
News and Notes
•
Sophia Ridolfo returned to action for the first time since the season opener.
•
Leticia Da Silva's goal was the first of her career.
• In 2022 and 2023,
Bridgette King's first goals of the season have come against Goldey-Beacom. She has three career goals at GCU and two are against the Lightning.
•
Ashley Merizalde's goal was her first in nearly two years. Her last goal came Oct. 2, 2021.
• Georgian Court and Goldey-Beacom had met 25 times before today. This is the first tie in the history of the series.
• GCU after winning 17 straight against the Lightning are now 0-2-1 in their last three dating back to 2021.
• The Lions have played to a draw in each of their last three matches.
Up Next
• Georgian Court plays twice more on the road this weekend. They'll be in Sparkill, NY for a nonconference match against St. Thomas Aquinas Friday, Sept. 22 at 1 p.m. Conference play continues on Saturday, Sept. 23 against Felician at 2 p.m.
