TOWSON, Md. ? Senior midfielder Rosie Goldberg scored the game-winning goal by converting a penalty kick with three seconds remaining in regulation as the Tigers (4-12-1, 1-7-1) earned their first Colonial Athletic Association victory of the season, a 3-2 win over CAA-leading Old Dominion University (13-3-1, 6-2-1) at the Towson Center Soccer Complex on Friday afternoon.
With three seconds remaining in the second half, the Tigers were awarded their second penalty kick of the game when junior midfielder Brittany Hadaway was fouled inside the penalty area. Goldberg took the penalty kick and scored her first goal of the season by beating senior goalkeeper Lauren Tupman to her left side.
“As a captain, I wanted to take the kick because I wanted us to win so bad,” Goldberg said. “I looked on the field and thought it was best for me to take the kick.”
Goldberg added, “It feels awesome to beat a team like ODU after going through such a difficult season as we have gone through. To get the win feels so good right now.”
The Lady Monarchs took a quick 1-0 lead just 6:35 into the match when senior midfielder Janna Pearson scored her second goal of the season by converting passes from freshman forward Victoria Johnson and senior forward Katie Watson.
With just 58 seconds remaining in the first half, the Tigers received their first penalty kick of the game when junior forward Kaitlyn Zamroz was fouled inside the penalty area. Junior midfielder Danielle Rosanova took the penalty kick and scored her first goal of the season with a shot that beat Tupman to the near side.
The Tigers took a 2-1 lead less than three minutes into the second half when freshman forward Kaysi Ward scored for the second straight game by converting passes from junior forwards Erica Marshall and Phyllicia Rosselli for her second goal of the season.
However, the lead was short lived as Watson scored her tenth goal of the season less than two minutes later when she converted a free kick from 25 yards away to tie the score at 2-2, setting up Goldberg's heroics.
“It feels great to get a win,” Towson Coach Greg Paynter said. “It just shows the character of this program and these players. They have never quit on the season and never quit on each other. They just kept fighting and played hard.
“We have struggled scoring goals this season and we had two players who had not scored a goal this year step up and convert penalty kicks when we needed them,” added Paynter. “Those are high-pressure situations and both Rosie and Danielle handled them well.”
Senior goalkeeper Kendie Bauer made six saves to earn her second win of the season as the Tigers were outshot by a 13-9 margin.
Watson scored a goal with an assist for the Lady Monarchs, who began the week as the sixth-ranked team in the NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Region poll. Meanwhile, Tupman, who entered the game as the CAA leader in goals against average, made three saves for the Lady Monarchs, who had their six-game unbeaten streak snapped with the loss.
The Tigers will continue their three-game homestand on Sunday afternoon when they host the College of William & Mary at 1 p.m. Meanwhile, the Lady Monarchs will travel to George Mason for a 1 p.m. game against the Patriots.
“It is going to be another tough game for us on Sunday against William & Mary,” Paynter said. “They are another one of the top teams in the CAA and they have a tremendous reputation.”
Game Notes: The three goals by the Tigers were a season high and the most allowed by Old Dominion this season ... Prior to Friday, the Tigers' last win came on September 4 in a 1-0 overtime victory against Rider ... Goldberg's penalty kick attempt in the second half was the second attempt this season and the third of her career ... She is now 1 for 3 in penalty kicks for her career ... With the goals by Rosanova and Goldberg, the Tigers have had 10 different players score a goal this season ... The Lady Monarchs were 5-0-1 during their six-game unbeaten streak ... The Tigers snap a school-record 11-game winless streak and a 7-game losing streak, which tied the school record set during the 1992 season.
Goals: ODU ? Janna Pearson (6:35), Katie Watson (49:14); TOW ? Danielle Rosanova (44:02, pk), Kaysi Ward (47:53), Rosie Goldberg (89:57, pk). Assists: ODU ? Victoria Johnson 1, Katie Watson 1; TOW ? Erica Marshall 1, Phyllicia Rosselli 1. Saves: ODU ? Lauren Tupman 3 (90:00, 3 goals allowed); TOW ? Kendie Bauer 6 (90:00, 2 goals allowed). Shots: ODU ? 13; TOW ? 9. Corner Kicks: ODU ? 5; TOW ? 4. Attendance: 157.
