FAIRFAX, Va. - In the home opener for the George Mason women's
soccer team, Tiana Kallenberger scored the game-winning goal in the 96th
minute to seal a 2-1 overtime victory over American Wednesday night at George Mason
Stadium. Kallenberger completed an Emily Harvey pass in the extra period to
give the Patriots their first victory of the season. American dips to 0-2-1,
while Mason improved to 1-1.
In the final five minutes of regulation, the Patriots controlled
possession and the pace of play, carrying the momentum into overtime. Mason opened
the extra period strong and converted its first scoring opportunity as Harvey got
a touch off freshman Emma Starr's through ball. Harvey slipped it past an
American defender as Kallenberger made a diagonal run to receive the ball and
placed the shot into the upper left corner out of American goalkeeper Charlene
Belanger's reach for the game-winner.
The home squad outshot the Eagles 17-7 overall and 9-4 in shots
on goal as American held a narrow edge in corner kicks, 5-4. Lyndse Hokanson
picked up the win, making three stops in the contest. Belanger came up strong for the Eagles making
seven saves, including four in the first half. The Patriots dispersed nine
shots on goal with Liz Hodges tallying three, while Carleigh Morba put all
three of her shots on goal for the Eagles.
Mason trailed 1-0 at the half despite outshooting the Eagles
7-4 as American capitalized on a corner kick in the 11th minute. Nicole
Paviglionite took the corner for the visiting squad as Michelle Montilio headed
the kick and Jasmine Mohandesi was in position to finish the play, scooping
behind Hokanson on the right corner for the tally.
Mason, however, was unable to convert on scoring
opportunities late in the first half as Mary Kate Lowry tried to post the
equalizer on a Jazmin Cardoso free kick with a header in the 31st minute that
Belanger jumped to knock out of play. Less than four minutes later, Harvey threatened
Belanger receiving a Hodges cross from the left side and blasting a shot from
18 yards out into the hands of Belanger as the Eagle punched it out to make the
save.
The Patriots saw their final scoring threat in the first
half in the 43rd minute off the foot of freshman Sydney Mitchell who
saw a clear opportunity from 25 yards out, but the shot was nearly high,
hitting the crossbar.
Midway through the second half, Mason put together a strong
scoring chance as Hodges looked for a shot deflected by an American player as
Cardoso took the rebound and hit the corner crossbar. Mason broke through on
their second corner kick of the evening as Liz Agiato, on the near side, sent
the kick across the field and Kelly Pizzingrilli scored the equalizer from 12
yards out into the right corner of the net in the 70th minute.
In the 87th minute, American looked for the go
ahead off a Hannah Tatro free kick as Jasmine Mohandesi passed it off to Brenna
Smith, but the attempt went high and wide. Less than a minute later, Mason
posted two shots as Harvey's blast was blocked and Agiato tried to score on the
rebound, but the shot went high, sending the teams into overtime.
The Patriots return to action and close out this
two-game homestand welcoming George Washington to Fairfax on Friday, August 24,
for a 7 p.m. matchup.