| HTML Box Score | Photo Gallery Elmira, NY -- Even after 110 minutes of play, neither the Elmira College women's soccer team nor Bard College were able to find the edge needed to come away with a victory. This is the first time in over 10 years for both EC and Bard that their season-opening game ended in a draw.
Making an impact in today's game for Elmira were a couple of newcomers in
Gabe Carmona '18 and
Abby Saturni '18. After an intense preseason battle, Carmona earned the starting goalie gig and did not disappoint, making nine saves, including a couple in the first half that kept the game scoreless. Saturni provided EC's only offense on the day, scoring just four minutes after coming on the pitch for the first time as a sub in the second half.
Few shots were taken at all let alone put on frame early on in the contest, but one by the Raptors 13:34 into play would have changed the course of the game if not for Carmona's acrobatics. Bard had a clean look at the net from the penalty hash mark, but the Sylmar, CA native made a leaping save with arm fully extended to turn away the shot and keep the game scoreless.
Bard's second quality opportunity for a goal came a little over 10 minutes later after a cross came in from the right sideline. The cross made it through the middle of the box and was heading towards a Raptor attacker, but it carried just past the lunging leg of the attacker and rolled harmlessly out of bounds, ending the threat. The rest of the first half would remain scoreless, 0-0.
EC again was forced to hold off the Bard offense at the start of the second half, but between a strong back-line and Carmona being in the right place at the right time, the game remained scoreless. After turning away several Bard attacking attempts, the Soaring Eagles would take their turn to apply some offensive pressure.
The increased pressure would pay off for the Purple and Gold too as EC would tally the first score of the game in the 65th minute of play. After a series of passes to advance play down the field,
Maddie Miller '17 found the ball at her feet just outside of the 18-yard box. She sent a cross to the far post where
Mollie Hamilton '15 was filling the slot as she was crashing the net. With the Bard goalie pulled out of position while following the flight of Miller's cross, Hamilton played the ball back to the middle of the box and to the feet of
Abby Saturni '18. Saturni buried the shot into the empty net, giving EC the 1-0 lead.
Elmira's lead would be short-lived, however, as Bard would answer almost immediately, 53 seconds to be exact. The Raptors were able to penetrate the Purple and Gold defense and get one of only a few open looks on net all day. Bard's Abbey Labrecque would slide her shot into the lower left corner of the net, knotting the game up at one.
The rest of the half would be a defensive showcase as there would be a total of two shots attempted in the final 25 minutes of regulation. Neither of those shots were all that threatening, forcing the game into extra time.
Shots on frame came at a premium during the two overtime periods as the extra 20 minutes were again played with a high-defensive focus. In total, Bard outshot EC 4-1 in extra time, but none of the five shots were on target as the game ended in a 1-1 tie.
The Soaring Eagles now have a week to prepare for their next contest as EC travels to Plattsburgh State on Friday, September 5th for a 7:00 p.m. game.
