Schuckers Breaks Deadlock In Second Overtime As Women's Soccer Rallies Past NYU

9/1/2010 12:00:00 AM

HOBOKEN, N.J. (September 1, 2010) – Junior Kathleen Schuckers broke a 2-2 tie with 6:41 remaining in the second overtime as the Stevens Institute of Technology women's soccer team rallied from an 0-2 deficit to defeat cross-river rival New York University, 3-2, in its season opener at the De Baun Athletic Complex in Hoboken, N.J. Off to a good start, the resilient Ducks improved to 1-0 heading into this weekend's Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Tournament in Madison, N.J.

The Violets struck first, pushing across an early first goal at the 1:18 mark when a cross from senior midfielder Emily Jenkinson (Concord, Calif.) from the right endline found a streaking Rebecca Assing (Greenwich, Conn.) who tapped the ball into the left side of the Ducks' net.

NYU upped the margin in the 31st minute when senior midfielder Jane Barrett (Metuchen, N.J.) capitalized on a Stevens' foul in the box, converting the ensuing NYU penalty kick to stake the Violets to a 2-0 advantage heading into the locker room.

Despite being outshot 10-5 in the first frame, Stevens came out firing in the second half, testing senior goalkeeper Alex Walters (Babylon, N.Y.) – who replaced starter Rachael Ross (Santa Barbara, Calif.) – with a shot just four minutes into the stanza.

The Ducks' persistence paid off minutes later, when junior Sarah Lehman settled a Schuckers pass at the top of the Violets' 18-yard box before placing a well hit ball into the top left hand corner of the NYU goal in the 66th minute.

The Violets threatened to notch their third goal moments later however, when sophomore Erin Haggerty (Medfield, Mass.) slipped a pair of Stevens defenders, creating a one-on-one situation with Ducks' netminder Kaitlin McClymont, but the heady keeper made a sliding save on forward's try to keep Stevens within striking distance.

With the gritty Ducks continuing to push forward, Lehman struck again at the 74:18 mark, finding the net on another long shot after receiving a pass from freshman Becky Wos.

The teams would combine for three shots down the stretch, before the final horn in regulation sounded, sending the hard-fought match into overtime. Both teams continued to plug away during the first extra session, with each mustering a shot during the 10-minute frame, but neither could connect as the match moved into a final frame.

Following a Brittany Odgers shot in the 103rd minute that prompted a Walters save, an NYU failed clearance allowed Schuckers to make a run down the right side of the pitch, eluding a pair of Violet defenders before sneaking the game-winner past the diving NYU goalkeeper.

Stevens returns to action on September 4-5 at the FDU Tournament in Madison, N.J. against host Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham and Albright College before returning home to host the Seventh Annual Stevens Engineering Cup on September 11-12.
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