SPARKILL, N.Y. – Freshman Sara Calvert (Apple Valley, Calif.) recorded both goals for the Concordia College women's soccer team against St. Thomas Aquinas in non-conference action on Tuesday afternoon including the game-winning goal in overtime as the Clippers earned a 2-1 win at Spartan Field.
St. Thomas Aquinas struck first in the game with a goal in the 20th minute as Nicole Rivera slid a pass to Victoria DiMarco for her first goal of the season. In the 37th minute, Concordia answered with the equalizer as the Spartans' goalkeeper misplayed the ball and Calvert was on the doorstep to knock in her first collegiate goal from 10 yards out.
In the second half, St. Thomas Aquinas made the most of their offensive possessions by taking four shots in the first 14 minutes as the Clippers would answer back with three unanswered shots of their own as the score remained tied. "Our back line of Catherine Gray[Land O'Lakes, Fla.], Samantha Somers [Hooksett, N.H.], Karri Albanese [Fort Washington, Md.], and Hannah Deknikker [Davis, Calif.] were forced to make tackle after tackle," explained Head Coach Kelci Hegg.
The Spartans would have their best chance at tying the game in the 69th minute as Concordia turned the ball over and St. Thomas Aquinas had a breakaway, missing the shot wide of the net. Freshman goalkeeper Stephanie Wilczynski (Shrewsbury, Mass.) made three big saves during the remainder of regulation as the two sides would go into overtime tied 1-1.
"Wilczynski was clearly the player of the game," stated Hegg. "Her saves and agility in the net allowed us to push forward and get opportunities in the attack."
It would only take 1:13 for the game-winning goal to occur for the Clippers as solid passing led to the goal for Calvert from a pass by freshman Jimena Garcia Risoto (Madrid, Spain). The duo would break down the Spartan defense and Sara would be in alone on net to record her second goal of the game and give Concordia the 2-1 overtime win.
"Calvert converted her opportunities and showed composure and self-assurance in front of the goal,"explained Hegg. "She played outside her three weeks of experience at the collegiate level."
Wilczynski made nine saves on the afternoon as the Clippers were out-shot 27-9. Both teams had two corner kick opportunities in the game as Concordia is now 2-1-1 in their last four games against St. Thomas Aquinas.
"When we started the OT period I said to the girls, it is all going to be about heart so get in there and score so we can go home," concluded Hegg. "The buildup to the winning goal was the best soccer we have played to date."
The Clippers (1-1) will play in their home and Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) opener on Saturday afternoon at Holtdorf Soccer Field. Kickoff against Holy Family University is set for 12 p.m. as fans unable to attend can follow the action by clicking on the live stats and video links under the women's soccer schedule page on ConcordiaClippers.com.
