Niagara women’s soccer tops Robert Morris in overtime, 3-2

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — The Niagara Purple Eagles won their second straight game with a 3-2 overtime victory over the Robert Morris on Sunday. The Purple Eagles, who led 2-0 after 47 minutes, needed overtime to overcome the Colonials.
 
GAME SUMMARY

• NU nearly opened the scoring in the sixth minute. Bailey Sullivan played a cross in the box and Annie Ibey’s shot rattled off the crossbar. Kelsey Araujo’s follow-up shot went wide.
• Hailey Bicknell scored a sublime opener for her first goal of the season. Bicknell was left unmarked 30 yards out and had time to pick her corner with a left-footed bender into the corner in the 35^th minute.
• Two minutes into the second half, the Purple Eagles made it 2-0. Ida Micelli beat her defender to the byline and her pass found Veda Hensel near the penalty spot and she slotted it passed the keeper.
• Robert Morris cut the lead to 2-1 with a penalty kick goal by Jane Schleicher in the 59^thminute.
• The Colonials tied the game in the 68^th minute when Bailey Farabaugh’s thru ball split the two center halves and found Schleicher who toe poke it passed the keeper.
• In the 73^rd minute, Sabrina Locas made a game-changing save to keep the score knotted at 2-2.
• The Purple Eagles poured on the pressure in the final 10 minutes.
• Ibey drilled the post for the second time in the game in the 80^th minute.
• Araujo had a pair of chances in the 82^nd and 83^rd minutes.
• Niagara finished the game five minutes into the first overtime period.
• The game-winning goal came a buildup play started when Bailey Sullivan knocked the ball into the box. The RMU defender cleared it, but Ibey battled off a Colonial defender to win the ball and she slipped a pass to Hensel, whose shot was saved.
• Alexis Horwedel pounced on the loose ball in the box and shot it into the open net for the game-winning goal.  

 
EAGLE’S EYE ON…

• Hailey Bicknell, Veda Hensel (first career goal) and Alexis Horwedel all scored their first goal of the season.
• Annie Ibey had a game-high seven shots and registered her first career assist.
• Ida Micelli also had her first career assist.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• The Purple Eagles have won their first two home games for the second straight season.
• Niagara registered 31 shots (9 on goal) for the most total shots since having 34 versus Saint Peter’s on Oct. 11, 2014.
• Niagara won its first overtime games since beating Canisius, 1-0, on Oct. 21, 2015.

COACH’S CORNER

• “There was a lot of positive things that happen in today’s game. Unfortunately, there are a few negative things that made this contest closer then what it needed to be.  We didn’t panic when we faced some adversity and we showed great character in coming back and finding a way to win the game.” – head coach Peter Veltri

 
UP NEXT

• The Purple Eagles fly south to the Sunshine State to play Florida Gulf Coast on Friday at 7 p.m. and Florida Atlantic on Sunday at 1 p.m.

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