RALEIGH, N.C. – The Syracuse women’s soccer team kept its postseason hopes alive with a 2-1 double-overtime victory at North Carolina State on Sunday, Oct. 20. Freshman Stephanie Skilton (Auckland, New Zealand) netted the game winner in the 108th minute on an assist from junior Alexis Koval (Syracuse, N.Y.).

The game-winning goal started on a North Carolina State (6-11-0, 1-10-0) corner kick. Koval cleared the ball and then beat a Wolfpack player to gain possession. She dribbled the ball forward and drew the defense to the left side before crossing the ball to Skilton on the right side of the box. Skilton put her shot past North Carolina State goalkeeper Mackenzie Stelljes for her team-leading ninth goal of the season.

“It was a great individual effort by Alexis, who basically took the ball the length of the field,” Syracuse head coach Phil Wheddon said. “Stephanie has to be one of the best forwards in the ACC in the goal area. Alexis’ pass to Stephanie was fantastic and it was a calm finish.”

The Orange is now 7-9-1 overall and 3-7-1 in ACC play. With two regular-season games remaining, Syracuse can still qualify for the ACC Tournament and has its sights set on the national tournament as well.

“Today’s game was a must-win for both teams,” Wheddon said. “I’m proud of our team for coming away with three points when our backs were against the wall. We’re fighting for an opportunity to play in the national tournament. If we win our next two games we could possibly get that chance.”

The game went to overtime after both teams scored within a span of two minutes in the second half. The Orange struck first in the 60th minute. Freshman Maddie Iozzi (Ajax, Ontario) served the ball into the box on a corner kick. Sophomore Maya Pitts (Montclair, N.J.) had the first shot that went off the crossbar. After a scramble for the ball, sophomore Jackie Firenze (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) rocketed a shot that Stelljes blocked, but could not control. Freshman Taylor Haenlin  (Lowville, N.Y.) collected the rebound and put her shot by Stelljes for her first goal of the season to give Syracuse a 1-0 lead.

The Wolfpack answered in the 62nd minute. Caroline Gentry crossed the ball into the box where she connected with Jackie Stengel, who was charging toward the goal. Stengel chipped her shot over SU goalkeeper Brittany Anghel (East Meadow, N.Y.) for the equalizer. The Orange was the more dangerous team for the remainder of the second half as it allowed only one shot for North Carolina State in the final 28 minutes. Syracuse had a final opportunity to win the game in regulation, but Stelljes saved a header by freshman Blake Johnson (Atlanta, Ga.) with five seconds remaining to send the game into overtime.

Neither team could take advantage of its scoring chances in the first half. The Orange outshot the Wolfpack, 6-3, in the first 24 minutes before North Carolina State posted the final six shots of the half. Anghel stopped all three that were on goal to keep the game tied at 0-0 at halftime.

The Orange outshot the Wolfpack 23-16, while North Carolina State earned seven corner kicks to two for SU. Anghel finished with eight saves, including two in the second overtime, while Stelljes had 11 for North Carolina State.

“Brittany was fantastic,” Wheddon said. “She made some big saves when we had a defensive breakdown, which is what you need from a big-time goalkeeper.”

Syracuse hosts Maryland on Thursday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. in its final home game of the season. Admission is free of charge.
 

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