Sacred Heart Outlasts Army in 2OT Thriller

Thursday, August 31

West Point

7 p.m.

Army West Point

1-3-1

Sacred Heart

1-3-0

OT 3

OT 4

Sacred Heart

Army West Point

Sacred Heart Outlasts Army in 2OT Thriller

August 31, 2017 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point women's soccer team was outlasted by Sacred Heart, dropping a 1-0 decision in double overtime Thursday evening at Clinton Field.

The Black Knights moved to 1-3-1 on the season, while the Pioneers jumped to 1-3-0.

Melanie DaSilva had the deciding tally on a header at 104:43 that crept past the outstretched Army goalkeeper, Sydney Cassalia. Emily Rosso fed the ball up the right side where Kylie Roberts presented the cross for DaSilva.

The Black Knights controlled play for much of the first 30 minutes of play and ended up outshooting the Pioneers 8-3 in the first half. Senior co-captain Clare Shea provided the first scoring chance in the 32nd minute when the SHU keeper got tangled up and was out of her net when she got the ball and fired a quick shot toward the open goal from roughly 20 yards out that tailed wide of the target.

The best scoring chance of the night for Army came at the 62:57 mark when senior co-captain Brianna Nicholas blasted a shot from 13-yards out that was destined to find the back of the net, but a leg kick at the goal line by Kim McNally prevented the score. Less than three minutes later, fellow senior Madison McGinn rang a one-timer off the post from just outside the box off a pass from rookie Lizzie Harper.

The script was flipped after halftime, however, as Sacred Heart outshot Army 10-6 in the final 60 minutes of the match.

Cassalia played a critical role in forcing the extra time in the match, making four big saves throughout the game. The first came in the 39th minute when she stopped a shot from close range and dove to keep it from going over the end line. The Omaha, Neb., native's biggest save came with 1:30 remaining in regulation. The Pioneers got the ball inside the box on the right side and shot across the goal, but Cassalia extended to full extension and made the diving catch to force overtime.

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

Army outshot its opponent for the fourth time in its first five matches.
Clare Shea and Erynn Johns led the Black Knights with three shots, while Johns led the squad with two shots on goal.
Rookie goalkeeper Sydney Cassalia recorded four saves on the night, bringing her season total to 14.
The Cadets have taken more corner kicks than their opponent for the fourth time, taking a 5-4 edge tonight.
Sacred Heart earned their first win of the season tonight and evened the all-time series with Army at 2-2-1.
This was the first time in Army's last eight games that went to double overtime that the game did not end in a tie.

HOW IT HAPPENED

In the second overtime period, Sacred Heart got a cross in from the right side that found the head of their leading scorer on the season who put a header inside the left post for the game-winning goal.

UP NEXT

The Black Knights head west for a pair of contests.
They first visit service-academy rival Air Force on Sept. 8 for an 8 p.m. ET kickoff before heading to Colorado Springs to face Colorado College on the 10th at 2 p.m. ET.