BOX SCORE Box Score

For the third consecutive game the University of New Haven women’s soccer team outlasted its opponent in overtime, as the Chargers defeated Southern New Hampshire by the final score of 3-2 at Kayo Field on Friday evening. Senior Holly Dawson collected the game-winner in extra time for the team’s fourth overtime victory this season.

With the win New Haven improved its overall record to 6-4-2 and 4-3-2 in the Northeast-10 Conference. Southern New Hampshire dropped to 4-6-1 overall and 4-3-2 in the league.

Lucy Francisco, the hero in Tuesday’s game against Dowling, picked up right where she left off early on against the Penmen. Just five minutes after the opening whistle, Francisco blasted a shot from outside the 18-yard box and into the left corner of the net. The tally marked her fourth of the season and granted the home team a 1-0 lead.

However the lead was short-lived as the visiting Penmen responded a mere two minutes later with the equalizer. Kaleigh Roberge found the back of the net on a feed from Ariel Teixeira, knotting the game up at 1-1. The two early goals would conclude the first half scoring, leaving a tie score at the break.

After the intermission the Chargers once again grasped the lead with a quick goal. Francisco gathered the ball in the middle of the field with a lot of space to work with. She raced down the heart of the pitch and placed a perfect through ball in front Monica Yanez at the 18-yard box. Yanez took one touch and blasted a shot past the Penmen keeper for the go-ahead goal. Yanez’s third goal of the season put the Chargers in front 2-1 with just fewer than 40 minutes left in regulation.

Some 15 minutes later the Penmen managed to find their second game-tying goal of the match. Southern New Hampshire capitalized on a UNH infraction inside its own 18-yard box, resulting in a penalty kick. Ariel Teixeira calmly placed a shot to the left corner, tying the game up at 2-2.

In the final 20 minutes of action, neither team could find the game-winner, sending the two teams into overtime. The game marked the sixth time that the Chargers needed overtime this season.

As soon as the whistle sounded the Chargers’ offense was ready to go, showing very little signs of fatigue. Three minutes into the overtime, Francisco whipped in a cross from the left corner where Holly Dawson slammed home the game-winner in dramatic fashion. Dawson’s fourth goal of the campaign was the difference, granting the Chargers a crucial conference win.

New Haven returns to action on Sunday, October 10th when the team travels to Lowell, Mass. for a Northeast-10 Conference showdown against UMass-Lowell. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.