LAKEWOOD, NJ- You shoot me down, but I won't fall ... I am titanium. The Georgian Court University women's soccer squad may have adopted a newfound anthem Saturday afternoon as the Lions, having fallen behind 1-0 just 2:42 into the contest and 2-0 at the intermission vs. visiting University of Bridgeport, refused to tumble and deflected every bullet fired their way as the home team rallied for two second-stanza tallies to send the game into overtime and stun the perennial powerhouse Purple Knights with a 2-2 stalemate.

It was an inauspicious start to say the least for the Lions (1-1-1) as they immediately owned a 1-0 deficit when Bridgeport's Danielle Puddefoot (So.-Slough, England) drained a cross from teammate Gabby Trombley (Sr.-Lydenborough, NH) in just the third minute of play for her second goal of the season.

Bridgeport, who started the season ranked #12 in the country, made the score 2-0 at 35:31 on a break-away tally from Asia Pulse (Sr.-New Haven, CT) , her first of the year, which also was assisted by Trombley.

Before the whistle denoting the start of the second half even dissipated, GCU cut Bridgeport's lead in half when Tori Capestro, giving the Purple Knights a taste of their own medicine, clubbed a Katie Vecchio feed for her first collegiate goal just 1:18 into the period (46:18).

The scoreboard would sit stagnant until the 85th minute of regulation (84:08) when senior Becky Witmer fired another Vecchio dish from about 10 feet out into the back of the net for the thrilling, game-tying score.

The two clubs would go on to play two scoreless ten-minute overtime periods before the contest was declared a draw. Bridgeport (0-3-1) outshot the home team, 15-6, but the Lions dominated in the corners with a 7-2 corner kick advantage.

GCU goalkeeper Casey O'Connor collected seven saves in 110 minutes of play. Bridgeport's Julia Hansson (Jr.-Tocksfors, Sweden) denied two shots in her complete-game effort.

The tie game is Georgian Court's first since 10/9/10 when the Lions and Post University played to an identical 2-2 score in Waterbury, CT.

 

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