Sports

CUP Women’s Soceer Team Stuns Mansfield In Overtime

Trailing Mansfield 1-0 for the majority of the game, Clarion women’s soccer struck in the final minutes of regulation and early in overtime to earn the 2-1
victory at Mansfield.

Alyssa Katz freed Bethany Naugle on a breakaway in the 88th minute.

She buried her one-and-only opportunity to force overtime.

Naugle entered the match with seven minutes remaining in the game. Rob Eaton, Clarion’s head coach, said he wanted to utilize her speed to see if they could
get the late equalizer.

She only recorded one shot, but that one shot did the deed.

Autumn Rosenburg finished the comeback with a strike from about 15 yards away from goal, two minutes into overtime.

Senior midfielder Emily Heasley entered the game with 15 minutes left in regulation but provided a spark off the bench that lifted the team’s play.

“I have to give Emily Heasley a lot of credit,” said Eaton. “She came into the match with about 15 minutes left in regulation and really turned the game around
for us.”

Mansfield (1-5, 0-4 PSAC) received its lone goal from Erika Moyer on an assist from Leah Fuerst in the 26th minute.

With the victory, Clarion (3-3-1, 1-3-1 PSAC) has now received two positive results in as many games.

Freshman goalkeeper Laura Saussol collected six saves in the victory. Clarion’s Alyssa Liebdzinski and Gannon’s Amanda Sharbaugh scored the only goals of the
game on Saturday as the Golden Eagles and Golden Knights battled to a 1-1 draw.

Saussol stopped 14 of the 15 shots she faced. Saussol has only allowed eight goals in the first seven games of her college career.

“I feel like I am adjusting to college soccer faster than I expected,” said Saussol.

“Even if the girls are faster, stronger and better overall, I feel like I am doing pretty well for a freshman.”

After starting the season 2-0, Clarion picked up its first positive result in three games on Saturday.

Considering Gannon defeated No. 17 Edinboro the previous game, Clarion can find more positives than negatives out of the draw.

“We can build off our result because we gain more confidence each day, and everybody is giving 110 percent,” said Saussol.

“We played very well on Saturday, and we only can look to improve and be the best we can be.”

Gannon outshot Clarion 20-6 in the game.

The Golden Eagles will play host to two divisional opponents this weekend.

On Friday, Sept. 23, Millersville University (3-2-1, 1-2-1 PSAC) will come to Memorial Stadium for a 3 p.m. start.

Clarion will be back in action the next day on Saturday, Sept. 24, against West Chester University (4-0-3, 2-0-3 PSAC).

The game is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.