Lady Eagles Pass Clarion in OT
LOCK HAVEN – Jamie Hunter (Marietta, Pa./Donegal) converted a penalty shot 5:44 into the first overtime to give the Lock Haven University women’s soccer team a thrilling 2-1 win over visiting Clarion in The Haven’s 2014 home-opener.
Lock Haven (1-1, 1-1 PSAC) was awarded the penalty after Leisha Noble (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) broke in past her defender and charged into the box, causing the Clarion (1-1, 1-1 PSAC) foul.
The win also gave first-year head coach Rob Eaton his first win as LHU head coach. The win was also special for Eaton, who spent the previous four seasons at Clarion.
The Lady Eagles took control of today’s match from the start and their early pressure paid off in the 19th minute when Jamie Hunter scored the first of her two goals in the game. Hunter collected a crossing-pass from Haylea Myers (Lock Haven, Pa./Central Mountain) and drilled it toward net. Clarion goalie Laura Saussol dove to get a finger on it, but the shot was too hard and broke the goal line to put LHU up 1-0.
Clarion tied the match at 1-1 in the 29th minute when Taylor Starr grabbed a loose ball and fired a 22-yard shot into the upper corner.
Lock Haven had the majority of second-half chances, but couldn’t find the back of the net.
Clarion threated in the final minutes and LHU goalie Michelle Cuomo (Schenectady, N.Y./Herkimer) was forced to make a brilliant point-blank stop. Cuomo finished with four saves.
The two teams were deadlocked at 1-1 following 90 minutes of play, setting things up for dramatic Haven win.
Lock Haven returns to action on Wednesday, September 10 at 7 p.m. when they host Mercyhurst.
