Kristin Piorun and Samantha Trotta each scored a late second-half goal as the AU women’s soccer team erased a 2-1 deficit and defeated the Navy Midshipmen 3-2 in Saturday’s season finale on the road.
AU tied the game in the 88th minute, when the Midshipmen were unable to clear the ball and Brenna Smith found Piorun in front of the goal. Piorun, who had not scored all season, knocked the ball past Navy goalkeeper Hannah Legler to knot the game at two apiece.
Just over a minute later, the Eagles struck again. This time it was Trotta, who picked the perfect time for her own first career goal. With the ball in Navy’s box, Michelle Montilio gained control and threaded a pass to Trotta who fired the game-winner.
“It was a great job by our team to battle back with two goals in the last three minutes,” AU Head Coach Dave Bucciero told AU Athletics. “To win on the road against a team that was playing for a Patriot League Tournament berth is not easy and I am extremely happy for our kids.”
The Eagles got on the board first when Jasmine Mohandesi scored four minutes into the match. After a great individual effort sent Mohandesi into Navy territory, she was able to control the ball, turn and fire a shot from 12 yards out that found the back of the net.
The Midshipmen answered seven minutes later, when Carissa Youker scored off an assist from Anastasia Abid. Abid, who was one of six seniors honored on Navy’s Senior Day, sent a cross into the box that was headed by Youker into the top right corner of the goal.
After two early goals, the first half ended with the teams tied 1-1. Both sides registered four shots, while Navy held a 2-1 edge in corners at halftime.
Navy took a 2-1 lead in the 64th minute when Sam Newhaller received a pass from Ashlynn Soellner and drove home her fourth goal of the season. The Midshipmen would hold this lead for the next 24 minutes.
Piorun and Trotta scored nearly within a minute of each other, and Navy was unable to respond in the limited time remaining. In the 88th minute, AU keeper Lindsey Farthing saved Navy’s Kate Herren’s long shot on goal. The subsequent corner by the Mids resulted in a Paloma Perez shot that sailed wide.
For the game, Navy outshot AU 14-10 and held a 6-5 advantage in corners. AU goalkeepers Farthing and Klare Lazor combined for five saves while Legler made two for the Midshipmen.
The win puts AU’s final record at 6-10-3, with a 2-2-3 mark in Patriot League play. The Eagles finished in fifth place in the Patriot League. Only the top four teams receive a berth in the conference tournament. Navy ended its season in sixth place at 9-8-3, with a 2-3-2 conference mark. After last week’s tie against Lehigh the Eagles were eliminated from playoff contention.
ttomea@theeagleonline.com
