PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Jordan Mitchell's (Sachse, Texas) goal in the 75th minute broke a 2-2 tie and proved to be the game-winner as the Lynx downed Rhode Island College in a back-and-forth affair this evening on the road at RIC's Alumni Field.
The win is the second in a row for the Lynx as they improve to 6-3-2 on the season while the Anchorwoman snap a four-game unbeaten streak and fall to 3-4-2 overall.
With the match even at 2-2 in the 75th minute, Mitchell would bury a cross from senior Julie Essick (Boerne, Texas) as she slipped a shot into the corner of the net from five yards out for the 3-2 lead. The goal was Mitchell's team-leading fifth of the season while Essick picked up her second helper.
RIC had several chances down the stretch, including a shot that hit the post with just over five minutes left in the contest, but couldn't capitalize as Lesley held on for the 3-2 victory.
The Anchorwoman jumped out to an early lead when sophomore Leah Gravel (Johnston, R.I.) played a through ball over the defense. Sophomore Brittany DeGrooth (Westerly, RI) then dribbled around the Lesley keeper and slid in a shot from five yards away for the 1-0 lead at the 14:21 mark.
The lead would not last long, however, as Essick would put the Lynx on the board when she drilled a shot from 25-yards out just over one minute later, an unassisted tally at the 15:50 for her second of the season.
RIC regained the lead in the 31st minute when DeGrooth split the defense and found junior midfielder Stephanie Ricci (Smithfield, RI) who buried a shot from just outside the six-yard box to give the hosts a 2-1 lead.
Once again the Lynx would answer quicky in the 43rd minute as junior defender Maddy Kelly (San Jose, CA) fed sophomore forward Xaelel Allen-Coballero (Henrietta, NY) who connected with a shot from the left side of the box, 10 yards out, to tie the game 2-2 heading into halftime. Lesley controlled the action during the first 45 minutes of play and had a 12-3 advantage in shots for the stanza. The Lynx outshot their counterparts 18-10 for the match.
RIC freshman goalkeeper Amber-Marie Francois (Warwick, RI) had seven stops and allowed two goals, while junior Brianna Sousa (Warwick, RI) took the loss, allowing one goal with two saves for RIC. Lesley junior Lilly Donovan (Newburyport, MA) registered one save, while allowing two goals, as freshman Brittley Gaan (Bellevue, WA) picked up the win with one save for the Lynx.
Lesley will be back on its home-pitch on Saturday for a New England Collegiate Conference match with Daniel Webster College at 1:00p. RIC will also be back in action on Saturday and play host to UMass Dartmouth at 11:00a.