EDWARDSVILLE, Pa. – The Moravian College women's soccer team suffered a heartbreaking 4-3 setback in double-overtime against SUNY-Brockport in the Colonel Classic on Saturday afternoon.
The Greyhounds (0-2) were 14 seconds away from scoring a well-earned draw at the season-opening tournament, but the Golden Eagles (2-0) had a different idea when they scored the game-winner.
"It was emotional," said Head Coach Brienne Smith. "We played some of the best soccer I've ever seen Moravian soccer play. We had our chances to seal it up in regulation and momentum was in our favor going into overtime. It was a battle and a fun game to be a part of. It was not the result we wanted but I'm very proud of the effort they put forward."
The momentum came from a few near misses that could have sealed Moravian's first win of the 2013 season. Sophomore midfielder/forward Brittany Nicoline's header had an eye for goal, but the Brockport keeper made a leaping save to deny the Greyhound a game-winner. Sophomore midfielder/forward Melissa Pavia then had her chance to win it with a long shot, which was again turned away by a phenomenal save from the Golden Eagle keeper.
Pavia had already made her mark on the game. The sophomore stepped up to the nerve-racking challenge of taking the squad's first penalty kick of the year in the 22nd minute. Pavia put Moravian on the board, 1-0, with a confident stroke.
"Pavia's been playing with a lot of confidence," Smith said. "When it comes to taking a penalty, you let them make the decision. She stepped up and buried it without looking back."
Brockport evened the score in the 25th minute.
Freshman midfielder/forward Valentina Margiottiello but the Hounds ahead again with what Smith called the highlight of the game. The rookie striker released a powerful volley from the top of the 18-yard box off an assist from junior captain Kirsten Schall.
After the halftime break, Brockport pulled even again with a goal in the 65th minute, and eventually took its first lead of the game in the 73rd.
Showing a strong resilience, Moravian answered back when senior midfielder Taylor DiSora took a long shot that beat the Brockport goalie, tying the match at 3-3.
Despite the 0-2 start to the season, Smith is nothing but confident from what she's seen from her club thus far.
"We're going to build on this," Smith said. "That was one of the toughest teams we'll face all year and we were better than them at moments. In my mind, they have raised the bar with their level of play. As coaches, we're going to expect that every time they come on the field. We know what our potential is and if we play to it, we have a great season ahead of us."
Smith also echoed the notion that two emotional results can only help a young team in the long run. After the overtime loss, Wilkes University head coach John Sumoski said he would have loved to talk to the Greyhounds, but he wouldn't have been able to fight back the tears.
"He said it was an inspiration to watch them stick together and battle like that," Smith said.
Moravian returns to the pitch seeking its first win of the season on Wednesday when the Greyhounds visit Ursinus at 7:30 p.m.
