ALLENTOWN, Pa. -- Angela Carcella cashed in on a set piece opportunity to lift the Elizabethtown College women's soccer team to its first win of the season Wednesday at Muhlenberg. Carcella's first career game-winning goal came in overtime as the Blue Jays beat the Mules 1-0.
Trinity Soto made her first of three saves in the second minute to keep Elizabethtown (1-3-1) and Muhlenberg (0-3-2) level early on.
Aleaha Bigelow had the Jays' first chance on target in the 13th minute, but Sara Pecorelli made her first of seven saves to do the same.
Emily Rathell and
Gracie Brubaker each had chances in the final five minutes of the first half, but the Mules' keeper denied both Etown players the game's opening goal. The teams went into halftime at 0-0.
Janelle Barna was inches from a goal in the 48th minute, but her shot went off the woodwork. This after Soto made a save at the other end 41 seconds into the second half.
Marissa Lapinsky's scoring opportunity was denied by Pecorelli in the 49th minute.
Elizabethtown worked the ball well in the final third, using the width and their wide players, but just couldn't find the shot to beat Pecorelli. Carcella had Etown's last scoring chance of the game in the 78th minute when her shot from out top bounced in on the goalie, who smothered the ball after a giving up a rebound.
For the second consecutive game, the Jays were headed into overtime, only this time, they made sure it ended with a win.
The opening of the overtime period was all Blue Jays. Lapinsky had a look for the game-winner, but Pecorelli pushed the ball over the crossbar, giving Elizabethtown the corner kick. The Jays tried a few, and finally paid off on the third.
Lapinsky played it short to
Ava Whisten on the end line. The first-year forward collected the ball with her back to goal, took a touch to square up, and lofted a cross toward the back post, where Carcella was unmarked on the six-yard box. She had a clean look at goal as her header beat Pecorelli and gave Elizabethtown the 1-0 win.
The Blue Jays outshot Muhlenberg 18-8, including 3-0 in the overtime period. Soto made three saves in the win.
The women's soccer team will celebrate Senior Night as they host Penn State Berks at Ira R. Herr Field on Saturday, September 18, at 7 p.m.
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