Women's Soccer Plays Syracuse to 2-2 Draw

The Central Connecticut women's soccer team played to a 2-2 double overtime draw against the Syracuse Orange on Sunday afternoon.  The game was played at Fairfield University as past of the Fairfield University Classic.   Central rallied late to tie the game and send it into overtime.  With the draw the Blue Devils are now 1-2-2 overall on the season.

The Blue Devils took a 1-0 lead in the first half when freshman Christina Boucher scored her first career goal at 34:04.  She collected a loose ball inside the box and lifted it over the keeper for the game's first score.

Syracuse wasted little time making it a 1-1 game, scoring two minutes later at 36:05 off a free kick.  Jenna Rickan took a pass from Rachel Blum and beat Central keeper Nikola Deiter to tie the score.

The Orange took a 2-1 lead in the second half in the 78th minute on a goal from Tina Romagnuolo.  She beat a charging Deiter to the ball and sent it into the net for the goal.  Skylar Sabbag had the assist.

It looked as if the Orange might come away with the victory in regulation, but Central's sophomore captain Jewel Robinson had other ideas.  In the 89th minute Robinson picked a great time to score her first goal of the season.  She took a free kick and sent it off the Orange wall and into the far netting for the equalizer, and forcing overtime.

Neither team could find the net in overtime, and the game ended in the 2-2 draw.  Deiter made three saves in the overtime session, including one that she tapped over the crossbar in the first overtime, preserving the draw.  The Orange had three shots on goal in the two extra periods, the Blue Devils had one.

The Orange finished the game with a 25-10 advantage in shots, including 12-5 in shots on goal.  The had a 7-4 edge in corner kicks. 

Deiter made 10 saves for the Blue Devils, pushing her record to 1-2-2 on the year.  It marked the third time this season she has recorded 10 or more saves in a game.

Three players for the Blue Devils were named to the All-Tournament Team following the game.  Junior Erin Egan, sophomore Rachel Cerrone and freshman Julie Lavoie were named for their performance in the two matches over the weekend.

The Blue Devils will open the home portion of their schedule on Friday night, Aug. 16, on Arute Field at 5 p.m. against Albany.  On Sunday they will host Siena at 3 p.m. at Willow Brook Park.