ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – For the second game in a row, the St. Bonaventure women’s soccer team kept its postseason hopes alive thanks to a Molly Curry double-overtime winner, as the latest goal from the sophomore gave the Bonnies a 1-0 victory over visiting Massachusetts Friday afternoon at McGraw-Jennings Field.

After more than 107 minutes of scoreless action, sophomore sub Caitlin MacConnell sent a ball onto the head of reserve Stephanie Jenkins, who flicked a perfect ball over Curry’s defender. From there, the Ransomville, N.Y. native took one dribble, and – despite the ball popping up on her – fired a low, driven shot into the right-side of the net to claim what was a must-win game for the Bonnies.

“It was a great, opportunistic goal,” head coach Manoj Khettry said of Curry’s team-leading third game-winning goal of the year. “It was a real hustle play by Molly to get the initial win on the ball, and a really smart play by Steph to flick it on into space for her.

“It’s late in the game and you’re on a semi-breakaway from the 18 against a very good goalkeeper, and to slot it and put it in the corner – it’s really big time,” Khettry added.

Bonaventure entered the game needing to win both of its games this weekend to give itself the best chance to qualify for the eight-team Atlantic 10 Championship next week on Rhode Island’s campus in Kingston.

With the win, the Bonnies currently move into a tie for the eighth, and final, postseason spot, with Saint Joseph’s and Fordham, as all three teams have 12 points. Saint Joe’s hosts undefeated La Salle Friday evening, while Fordham won earlier on Friday. A complete breakdown of postseason scenarios will be available Saturday on GoBonnies.com.

Jenkins played just six minutes in the contest, but made the most of that as the freshman recorded her first point in Bona’s biggest game of the year. After entering as a sub for just one minute in place of injured Jordan Calabria in the first half, Jenkins came onto the pitch two minutes into the second overtime session. Curry has been more opportunistic than Jenkins, as all three of her goals this year are game-winners.

The Bonnies controlled the opening portion of the game, attempting four corners just 10 minutes into the match. SBU’s best chance of the opening frame came in the 22nd minute when freshman Abby Maiello put a header on net, but after reaching back behind her head, UMass keeper Emily Cota was able to make the save.

All told, Bona dominated the first 45 minutes of the contest, holding a 10-2 shot advantage and 6-0 corner lead. The Brown and White forced Cota into six first-half saves. Three of those saves came off MacConnell shots, as the Christian Brothers Academy product fired three on frame in just 13 minutes of action in the initial stanza.

The Minutewomen’s best chance came late in the second half with 6:18 left as Jackie Bruno fired a set-piece shot on net, but after receiving a yellow card to set the opportunity up, SBU keeper Katie Kerkman made a game-saving stop.

The two clubs played an equal second half, as supported by the shot total as each club racked up 10. After a calm first overtime session, it was SBU acting as the aggressors in the second overtime period as its fourth shot of the period finally found the back of the net.

St. Bonaventure returns to action on Sunday when it hosts Rhode Island on Senior Day in the final regular-season game of the year. Pending results from Friday night, the Bonnies could control their own destiny, and with a win would reach their fifth consecutive A-10 Championship.

GAME NOTES: Cota finished with 12 saves as SBU out-shot the Minutewomen, 25-13 … Kerkman needed to make just four saves – three of which came in the second half … after holding a 6-0 corner advantage at halftime, the Bonnies finished with a 7-5 advantage at the end of the game … SBU was whistled for 15 fouls, while UMass had 12.

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