BENNINGTON, Vt. — After erasing a one-goal deficit with just under six minutes to go in regulation, Southern Vermont College put home a double overtime game-winner for a 2-1 victory over Newbury College Saturday afternoon in New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) women's soccer action at Everett Field.

Southern Vermont sophomore Lauren Nesshoever (Rutland, Vermont) recorded a great assist on the game-tying goal before scoring the winning tally in the second overtime.

SVC collects its fourth win in five games to improve to 4-7 overall on the year, 2-1 in league play. The Nighthawks fall to 3-6 overall and 2-1 against the NECC.

The Mountaineers had the first really good chance of the day when an SVC corner kick turned into a scramble in the middle of the penalty area. Nesshoever got her foot on it from six yards out and ripped a shot, but it went right at Newbury junior keeper Elizabeth Fox (Orono, Maine) to keep the game scoreless just 11 minutes into the match.

Both sides saw opportunities through the next 20 minutes of playing, none of those materializing into a goal, however. The game remained knotted at 0-0 until the 30th minute when the Nighthawks took to the scoreboard first on a great finish.

NC freshman Shannon Walsh (Massapequa, New York), the most recent conference and ECAC Rookie of the Week, hit a nice ball from the right side of the field across the box to the far post after Newbury had worked it deep into SVC territory. The pass found junior Corrinn Niski (Oxford, Connecticut) who swung and ripped a one-time volley with her right foot into the back of the net, her sixth goal of the year.

The 1-0 Newbury advantage lasted through halftime and nearly got padded in the 57th minute with a stellar shot by Walsh. She spotted up on the right side of the field about 25 yards away from the goal and pulled the trigger, sending a great curling shot towards the upper left corner of the frame; the ball nicked the crossbar and subsequently rang off the left post, failing to cross the line for a Nighthawk insurance goal.

Southern Vermont had one of its best looks of the day with about 20 minutes to go in the second after earning a free kick on the left side of the field, 30 yards away from the net. SVC freshman Victoria Huff (Schuylerville, New York) took the kick and put it on frame, a nice bending shot aimed at the top of the goal face; it also caught a piece of the crossbar, coming inches away from being the equalizer before being cleared away by the Nighthawks.

With time running low and both sides starting to get fatigued, a slew of fouls began to be called as play was spent in the middle third for a majority of the half's end. The Mountaineers took advantage on one of their last few chances, finally getting on the scoreboard with under six minutes left to go. SVC worked the ball to feet until Nesshoever found herself near the goal line on the left side of the box with open space around her. The sophomore turned and played a great pass to the middle of the penalty area where junior Karina Meza (Los Angeles, California) ran on to the ball and buried it in the back of the net for her first goal in a Southern Vermont uniform. The 1-1 tally stood as time ticked away and sent the game to the extra sessions.

After neither team could capitalize on limited opportunities in the first overtime period, the match went to the final 10 minutes. It took less than three, however, for SVC to get a break through the middle of the field and take its second NECC win in as many games.

Mountaineer sophomore Melodie Orrell (Gloucester, Massachusetts) collected the ball in the middle of the field about 10 yards into the NC side, turned and saw a clear avenue down the gut of the pitch. She played a perfect through ball that allowed Nesshoever to run on and take a few touches at goal, going one-on-one at Fox. As the NC keeper came off her line, Nesshoever slotted the ball low and at the right bottom corner, a shot that found the back of the net for the game winner and her seventh of the season.

SVC freshman keeper Melissa Mascari (Saratoga Springs, New York) made seven saves to better her season record between the pipes to 4-7. Fox turned away four Mountaineer shots in the loss (3-6).

Shots were fairly even on the day with Newbury owning an 18-15 overall advantage and 8-6 edge on attempts on frame. SVC slighted the Nighthawks 6-4 on corners awarded.

Southern Vermont returns to action on Monday with a 3 p.m. NECC matchup at Wheelock College while Newbury hosts Becker College on Monday for a 7 p.m. league tilt.