HENNIKER, N.H. – A late goal in double overtime by New England College (6-7-1, 3-2-0) stunned the University of Maine at Farmington (2-7-1, 0-3-1) women’s soccer team with a 3-2 North Atlantic Conference win on Sunday at Don Melander Field.
The Beavers grabbed a 2-0 lead with a pair of goals coming from two rookies. Lydia Roy (Waterville, Maine/Waterville) tallied her fourth goal of the season in the eighth minute. Roy would break free and challenge Pilgrim keeper Mackenzie Meegan. Meegan would turn away Roy’s initial shot but Roy would rebound in her miss.
Ashley Gleason (Scarborough, Maine/Scarborough) doubled UMF’s advantage in the 68th minute with the assist coming from Roy. Gleason screened a NEC defender and launched a shot into the lower right corner of the net.
New England College answered 30 seconds later when Tara Bainbridge broke the shutout. Jaycie Triandafilou tied the game with 9:13 left in regulation to force the extra periods.
In the first overtime period, UMF pushed the tempo in an attempt to score the walk-off winner. Bridget Humphrey (Jefferson, Maine/Erskine Academy) fired a shot on goal with ten seconds to go, but her shot resulted in a save.
NEC’s Dawn Johnson would take a free-kick in the second overtime that would reflect off Banbridge and land right to Thomas, who lined the game-winning score.
Sam Hatch (Hebron, Maine/Oxford Hills) recorded 13 saves in the conference duel, which was her fourth game with at least 10 saves in the last five games.
UMF returns to non-conference action on Tuesday at the University of Southern Maine.
