CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Lesley University freshman Jordan Mitchell (Sachse, Texas) finished a cross from junior Julie Essick (Boerne, Texas) 4:41 into the first overtime period to lift the Lynx to a thrilling 1-0 victory over Southern Vermont College in New England Collegiate Conference action this afternoon at Edward Field.
The goal was Mitchell's ninth of the season while Essick earned her seventh helper as Lesley wraps up the regular season at 14-5-0 overall and 9-0-0 in NECC play. The Lynx will serve as the top-seed in the NECC Tournament starting this week.
The Mountaineers fall to 10-6-1 on the season and 6-2-1 in the conference with the loss and will gear up for a First Round match at home on Tuesday as the third seed.
Prior to the match, the Lynx honored Jackie Berard (Coventry, R.I.), Isabella Vidana (San Marcos, Calif.), Melinda Robinson (Plano, Texas), Samantha Rapant (Pittsfield, Mass.), Hayley Wirth (Escondido, Calif.), Jennifer Collins (Edison, N.J.), and Selena Quezada (West Covina, Calif.) with a Senior Day celebration. The seven seniors have had quite a run throughout their collective careers as they have gone 66-14-3, including a perfect 36-0-0 conference record, over the past four years and captured three consecutive NECC titles.
The Lynx held the majority of possession on the afternoon and outshot their opponents 23-3 while having a 9-1 edge on corner kicks.
Southern Vermont keeper Melissa Mascari (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) was excellent between the pipes for the Mountaineers, making ten stops in the loss. Lynx sophomore Lilly Donovan (Newburyport, Mass.) earned the win to improve to 8-1-0 on the season.
The Lynx nearly gained a one-goal advantage in just 1:41 into the game, but Vidana's drive from the right side of the box clanked off the far post to keep the game scoreless.
Lesley had another opportunity twenty minutes later when Mitchell played a short corner kick to Rapant who launched a drive from 18-yards out, but Mascari punched the ball away to nullify the threat.
The Mountaineers had a chance of their own in the 34th minute after the Lynx were called for a foul just outside the box. SVC freshman Ally McNamee (Freehold, N.J.) sent a right-footed line drive shot towards the Lesley cage, but Donovan corralled the ball for the save and the teams went into the break knotted at 0-0.
The Lesley offense continued to press in the second half but was only able to put five of their 14 shots on target, all of which were stopped by Mascari.
The best chances for the hosts came in a span of 53-seconds. Freshman Samantha Bessey (Algonquin, Ill.) first saw her shot from the right side ricochet off the crossbar at 77:01 before Essick was able to get her foot on a loose ball on the box, but Mascari was there to make the stop and keep the Lynx scoreless.
Lesley was able to capitalize on their first scoring opportunity in extra time as Mitchell extended her point-streak to eight matches.
The Lynx will enjoy a bye in the First Round of the NECC Championship and will get set for a Semifinal match on Thursday at Edward Field.