CAMBRIDGE, MA – Lesley University's Ahmed Abubakar scored the game-winning goal with eight seconds remaining in overtime to send the Lynx to a thrilling, come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Suffolk University Monday night at Edward Field.
Visiting Suffolk led for over 60 minutes, but a Lesley goal in the 65th minute tied the game, and Abubakar's (Springfield, VA/Robert E. Lee) first goal of the season made victors of the Lynx, improving the team to 4-1-0.
Suffolk falls to 1-4-0 despite a standout performance from goalkeeper James Potter, who made a match-high nine saves in the loss.
The Rams took advantage of an early Lynx turnover in front of their own net and took a lead Suffolk would keep for the majority of the match. Babacar Sembene sent a pass to Danny Lloyd, who beat Lesley goalkeeper Max Perkins for his fourth goal of the season at 3:22.
Suffolk kept its lead for the remainder of the period in spite of the Lynx holding a 13-8 first half advantage in shots. In a second half played primarily on the Lesley end, it would be the Lynx that broke through and tied the contest.
Although the Rams took four of the frame's five corner kicks, Lesley tied the game at 1-1 at the 64:19 mark. Defender Christian Domingo (Granada Hills, CA/Delphi Academy) sent a long cross ahead to fellow senior Joe Petit (Salem, MA/Salem), whose nifty flick of a shot beat Potter to tied the game.
It remained tied until the waning minutes of overtime, when a Rams foul preceded Lesley's Ari Sinanis (Guilford, CT/Guilford), the New England Collegiate Conference leader in assists, rushing to the right corner to set up a last-second corner kick. Sinanis' ball was fielded by reserve Jordan Santos (Middlebury, CT/Pomperaug), and the freshman deflected a pass to Abubakar, who rifled a shot past Potter into the top center of the net from point-blank range at 99:52 for the win.
In net for the Lynx, Perkins stopped six Rams shots to pick up the win.
At 4-1-0, Lesley returns to play on Thursday at Emmanuel College.
