MEDFORD, Mass. – Lesley University's Samantha Bessey (Algonquin, Ill.) picked a great time to notch her first collegiate goal as the freshman finished a cross from fellow first year Jordan Mitchell (Sachse, Texas) 2:10 into the first overtime to lift the Lynx over Tufts University 1-0 on the road at Kraft Field.
Mitchell set up the game-winning play by dribbling the ball down the right sideline before sending the ball into the middle of the box where Bessey one-timed a shot from eight yards out into the right side of goal to give Lesley the win. The assist was the first of Mitchell's career.
The win, which is the first over a New England Small College Athletic Conference school in Lesley Athletics history, improves the Lynx to 2-2-0 on the season while the Jumbos open their season at 0-1-0.
Each side had a solid scoring opportunity in the opening 45-minutes of play. Lesley's best look of the half came in the 21st minute when sophomore Karlie Rubin (San Diego, Calif.) sent a right-footed bullet that just sailed over the crossbar before Tufts senior Nicole Campellone almost scored in a goal-mouth scrum, but her volley landed wide left.
The two sides had nearly identical shot production in the match as the Jumbos held a narrow 15-14 edge. The hosts also held a slim 2-1 advantage in corner kick opportunities.
Lynx senior Jackie Berard (Coventry, R.I.) earned the win as she made five saves while playing the second half and overtime period. Sophomore Lilly Donovan (Newburyport, Mass.) made two stops in the start. Emily Bowers stopped three shots for the Jumbos in the loss.
The Lynx will look to make it two straight on Saturday when they open their home schedule against Cambridge neighbor, MIT, at 5:30p. The Jumbos will return to play when they host Colby College at noon on Saturday.
