BENNINGINGTON, Vt. – A big-time save by each keeper in a second overtime period led to Southern Vermont College and New England College playing to a 0-0 tie after 110 minutes Tuesday afternoon in non-conference women's soccer action at Everett Field.
Both the Mountaineers and Pilgrims had chances throughout the match but were unable to get on the board thanks to great defensive play and solid goalkeeping.
Southern Vermont controlled the midfield in the first five minutes, allowing Mountaineer senior Kaitlyn Forant (Hardwick, Vt.) to get two breakaway opportunities, pushing the first wide left and the second over the crossbar. With a New England defensive flat back that pulled itself up towards the midfield line, SVC was able to play through balls that led to decent chances.
The Mountaineers were hard-pressed to put shots on frame, however, as each team registered only one on goal in the first 25 minutes of play. The Pilgrims saw a golden opportunity at the 16:13 mark when senior Alyssa Krause (Northfield, N.H.) carried the ball into the box from the left side and ripped a shot just wide into the side netting. Aside from that, the Southern Vermont defense tracked backwards well to prevent NEC from having good looks at goal.
New England was able to posses the ball for a majority of the first half but was limited to playing in the middle third of the field as the Mountaineer back line held tough and prevented Pilgrim through balls. The opening period wound down with neither team able to break through, and the teams went into halftime in a scoreless tie.
The Pilgrims didn't take long in the second half to create a good opportunity, but Mountaineer junior Michelle Flores (Pico Rivera, Calif.) tracked and played strong defense to hinder NEC from taking a shot. New England again was able to posses and move the ball well, but didn't have much success getting into the box and see the frame well.
With about 18 minutes to play in regulation, the Pilgrims started to knock on the door and put Mountaineer fans on their toes. NEC senior captain Jillian Zanine (Bethel, Conn.) utilized a free kick opportunity to take a shot on a good look, but SVC sophomore keeper Katie Raymond (Bristol, Conn.) made a diving save to keep match deadlocked. Minutes later, Pilgrim sophomore Melissa Wagner (Croton on Hudson, N.Y.) got in through the Mountaineer defense but put the ball just wide of the goal. Southern Vermont would have its own opportunities late, but the Mountaineers couldn't find the back of the net and were hampered by an offsides call in the box with two minutes to play.
The first extra period saw NEC with good pressure and shots taken, however none were able to get on the goal. Southern Vermont started to posses and move the ball better three minutes in, but neither team could capitalize before the first overtime ended.
New England saw one of its best chances of the day just 1:32 into the second overtime when senior Kristen Walker (Franklin, Mass.) took the ball about 40 yards out and carried it to goal. Upon nearing Raymond, she tried to shoot it to the left side, but the Mountaineer netminder did her best hockey goalie impersonation and deflected the ball away with her right leg to preserve the tie. With 6:30 to play, SVC senior captain Jocelyn Ortega (Chula Vista, Calif.) had a great look of her own in the box, but Pilgrim junior goalkeeper Tricia Sardagnola (Shrewsbury, Mass.) made a kick-save of her own. Neither team could manage much more for the remainder of the session as the clock ticked down for the 0-0 final.
Raymond (0-4-1) turned away 13 NEC shots on the day while Sardagnola (2-3-2) stopped five Mountaineer tries.
Southern Vermont (0-4-1) turns to its New England Collegiate Conference opening match, a 1 p.m. Saturday contest at Lesley University. New England (2-3-2) also begins league action Saturday when the Pilgrims host Castleton State College for a 5 p.m. North Atlantic Conference showdown.