Score: Elmira College 3, Wells College 2 (OT)
Records: Elmira (1-5-0), Wells (2-4-0)
Location: Campus Field – Elmira, N.Y.
 
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- In a wild back-and-forth affair, it would be the Elmira College women's soccer team that prevailed in a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory over visiting Wells College. Elmira trailed early in the contest, but rallied with two goals, before surrendering its lead in the closing minutes of regulation. However, senior Jordyn Rousselle '18 played the hero by scoring the game-winning goal just 1:33 into the overtime period to hand the Purple and Gold their first win of the 2017 campaign.
 
Wells jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute of the first half on a goal by Taylor Nichols. Mackenzie Maloney set up the score by carrying the ball with an EC defender on her hip along the end line, before sending the ball across the mouth of the goal to an unmarked Nichols, who chested it into the back of net for the game-opening score.
 
From there, Elmira ramped up its offense and outshot the Express, 7-2, over the next 15 minutes. Elmira's relentless pressure on the attack yielded a goal from Rousselle in the 32nd minute. Following a one-on-one save by Wells goalkeeper Quinn Doubet, the visiting goalie chose the roll the ball out of her box to her left back. The Wells defender tried to carry the ball along the left sideline, but Rousselle toed it away from her to create a mini counter attack. With Doubet off of her line, Rousselle took a pair of dribbles before firing the ball over Doubet's head and into the goal from 18 yards out, which knotted the game at 1-1.
 
Rachel Grampp '18 made two of her six saves in the final 14 minutes of the first half to preserve the tie heading into the halftime break.
 
Rookie Hailey Boris '21 got into the scoring mix in the 64th minute, as the freshman midfielder made the most of a set piece in Wells' defensive third. Elmira was awarded a free kick, taken by Celina Spitznogle '19, who curled a dangerous ball into the box from just about 30 yards out. The feed bent around a handful of red and gold jerseys, before finding its way to Boris on the far post, where she lunged at the ball and toed it on its second bounce into the back of the net for the score.
 
The Boris goal seemed to ignite the Elmira offense, which produced handful of quality scoring chances in the final portion of the match. Mackenzie Mitchell '20 nearly scored her first goal for EC on a well-struck shot from outside the 18-yard box, but her attempt rattled off the post and out of bounds in the 73rd minute. Fellow newcomer Taylor Hanson '21 had a chance from close range in the 85th minute, but her attempt was snuffed out by Doubet to keep it a one-goal game.
 
It looked as though the one-goal lead would be enough to see Elmira through to a win, but a stingy Wells squad would not go away quietly. EC attempted to clear its defensive third twice late in the game, but a pair of ricochets resulted in Yanna Ososkalo finding herself with the ball at the top of the 18-yard box, where she slid a through ball to Madison Beriman in the right side of the box. The pass set up a one-on-one for Beriman, who tucked the ball near-post for the game-tying goal in the 88th minute.
 
Grampp was forced to make one save and EC's defense fended off a pair of Wells corner kicks in the final 1:30 of regulation to send today's contest into overtime. Elmira wasted little time in the extra session though, as Rousselle found the game-winning goal in the first 1:33 of overtime.
 
The scoring play began with a good effort out of the air by Boris, who won a 50-50 ball at midfield and passed it backwards to Megan Diem '21. From there, Diem connected a pass with Amy Sullivan '18 at midfield, where she one-touched a pass back to Boris on the right sideline. Boris sent an over-the-top pass down the line to Sara Kazerouni '18, who beat her defender into the box and carried the ball along the end line, before crossing it near-post to Rousselle, who one-timed the shot into the net for the game-winning score.
 
Rousselle finished the contest with four points on two goals, the second multi-goal game of her EC career. Boris finished with two points, as she tallied her first career goal for the Soaring Eagles, while Kazerouni and Spitznogle were each credited with one assist apiece.

In Her Own Words...
Head Coach Kaitlyn Mallernee shares her thoughts on Elmira's performance this evening...
"Today's performance was collectively a team victory. Wells came out scoring first but we held our heads high, mentally staying strong and knowing that we would find the back of the net. I am very proud of the team for playing with confidence in themselves, their teammates and taking control of the flow of the game."

Coach Mallernee talks about Rousselle and her two-goal performance...
"The key to Rousselle's two-goal performance had a lot to do with the service from her teammates and never giving up a moment to execute offensively. Rousselle is also playing in a different position than she has been the past few games, which allowed her to find the shots she did. Overall, it was a continuation of mental and physical toughness, also displayed throughout the team."

Coach Mallernee discusses EC getting its first win at home...
"It's always hard on the team to work so hard in games and still fall short, so to have our first win out of the way and on our home turf, following that performance, is outstanding. I'm glad that we were able to capitalize in today's match as we move into conference play. I am also very pleased to see our ECWS family compete throughout every minute and give back to the crowd a win. The support always means a lot to us, whether it's from the sidelines or watching live." 
 
News and Notes

• Elmira picked up its first win of the 2017 season.
• The Soaring Eagles improved to 1-2-0 on their home field this year.
• EC improved to 12-2-0 all-time against Wells.
• Today's match was the first between Elmira and Wells since 2008.
• The 24 shots taken by Elmira were a season high and the most since October 31, 2015.
• Rousselle produced her second multi-goal game and second game-winning goal of her collegiate career.
• Boris scored the first goal of her collegiate career this afternoon.
• Spitznogle was credited with her first career assist and point in today's win.
• Kazerouni recorded her second assist of the season, a career-best for the senior striker.
• Grampp picked up her first collegiate win as a goalkeeper for EC women's soccer.

 
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles will look to keep things rolling this Saturday, September 23, when they host the Saxons of Alfred University. The Empire 8 Conference contest is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Elmira's Campus Field.