Box Score BOX SCORE
When and Where: October 3, 2017 – No. Andover, Mass. (Martone-Mejail Field)
Score: Southern New Hampshire University 2, Merrimack College 1 (OT)
Records: SNHU 9-1-1 (7-0-1 NE10), Merrimack 4-6-0 (1-6-0 NE10)
Senior Trisha Luis (Lowell, Mass.) scored the game winner for the third straight match, finding the back of the net 4:08 into overtime to send the 18th-ranked Southern New Hampshire University women's soccer team to a 2-1 come-from-behind victory Tuesday evening at Martone-Mejail Field.
After having tied the game in the final 20 minutes of regulation, Southern New Hampshire opened overtime by receiving a save from senior goalkeeper Paige Salmon (W. Hempstead, N.Y.), who stopped a bid from Izzy McDonnell just 1:37 into the extra session. It would not be Salmon's biggest save of the night, however.
The Penmen would then go on the attack, as junior Ariana Silvia (Brockton, Mass.) crossed a free kick into the back of the box where it was played by senior Abigail Maker (Naples, Maine) over to Luis, who tapped the ball into the net to give SNHU the win.
Trailing, 1-0, early in the 72nd minute, the Penmen tied it when a cross from the left by sophomore Emily Roan (Bridgewater, Mass.) found the foot of freshman Allyson Patterson (Seekonk, Mass.), who popped the ball past Merrimack goalkeeper Molly Meehan, to level the match.
The Warriors nearly went back in front in the 80th minute on a penalty kick goal by Amber Gustafson when Salmon dove to her right, but, with the ball having been kicked toward the middle of the net, Salmon kicked out her left foot and miraculously thwarted the attempt to keep the match tied, which would eventually set up overtime and Luis' winner.
Salmon made a season-high seven saves, while Meehan stopped five shots.
Following a scoreless first half, Merrimack found the board first in the 60th minute as Andrea Rego's corner service went directly into the net to make it 1-0.
Notes:
- The loss snapped a three-game losing skid against the Warriors, who were 11-1-1 in their last 13 against Southern New Hampshire entering the day. SNHU also vanquished a six-match losing streak in North Andover, defeating Merrimack on its home turf for the first time since a 1-0 victory Sept. 1, 2005.
- The Penmen have just one loss in their first 11 matches to start the year for the first time since 1994 (10-1-0). Not a single player on the current roster was alive then, while head coach Elie Monteiro was in his junior year and assistant coach Jamie Williams in his sophomore season with the then-New Hampshire College men's soccer team.
- SNHU extends its unbeaten streak to nine matches, its longest since it went 7-0-3 from Sept. 17-Oct. 21, 2003.
- Southern New Hampshire is 13-2-1 in the regular season, dating back to Oct. 15 of last season.
- The Penmen are outscoring their opponents, 23-5, through the first 11 matches of the season.
- Salmon and the Penmen had their shutout streak, which dated to the first half of their Sept. 19 match, snapped at 416:57. SNHU allowed just a single goal from the first half of its Sept. 9 match, up until the Merrimack goal Tuesday – a span of 693:16. In the 727:07 since the Sept. 9 goal, Penmen opponents have now only found the back of the net twice.
- Luis' goal was her sixth of the season and the 21st of her career. She has now scored four goals in the last three matches, including a tri of game winners.
- Southern New Hampshire outshot Merrimack, 18-16, including 15-9 in the second half and overtime, combined, and also held a 9-5 advantage in corner kicks.
- SNHU is now outshooting its opponents, 212-74, on the season.
Up Next:
The Penmen return to action Saturday, Oct. 7 (4 p.m.) when they take on Adelphi University. The next home match for SNHU is Saturday, Oct. 14 (4 p.m.) when it plays host to Saint Michael's College at Larkin.
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