Box Score Emmitsburg, Md. (Aug. 28, 2016) – Junior Chloe Cain scored off a header just over two and a half minutes into overtime to lift the Mountaineers to a 2-1 victory over American University on Sunday afternoon at Waldron Family Stadium. With the win, the Mount improves to 1-1-1 on the year, while American falls to 0-4.
The Mountaineers earned a corner kick early in the overtime period and Kristen Morawski got her head on in, flicking it back to Carter Merrigan at the top of the 6-yard box. Merrigan headed it over to Cain, who was stationed a few yards away from goal, and Cain beat the keeper with a header for the game-winner. The tally was the first of Cain's Mount St. Mary's career in her third game with the team after transferring from Chicago State prior to the season. The assist for Merrigan was the first career point for the rookie from Ontario.
"We all came together collectively and said we need to get one in the back of the net, that's what we have to do. Jenna had a really nice goal and we knew we had to capitalize off of that and not walk out of here with a tie again," said Cain.
"A great performance for sure … to get the lead, lose it late, and then to find the winner in overtime, it's really special. That's something that I'm really proud of this group for," said first-year coach Joe Nemzer, who captured his first career win as a head coach. "For us to keep our wits about us, to stay within our game plan and to grind out a result, that's what elite teams do. And I think we're on the right path."
Neither team was able to find the back of the net until the 78th minute of play when sophomore Jenna West, who finished last season tied for the team-lead in points and goals, scored her first goal of the 2016 campaign. Nikki Pinto started the play with a short pass to Sarah Harmon, who sent a long ball over the top to a streaking West. West outraced the defender and beat goalie Morgan Lang to give the Mount a 1-0 advantage, as Harmon picked up her first career assist and Pinto tallied the third of her career on the play.
With just over three minutes remaining in the contest, Madie Light worked her way down the far sideline and sent a cross that sliced towards the far post, hit off the post and trickled in to even the game at 1-1. Both teams were held scoreless in the remaining three-plus minutes of regulation, sending the game into overtime where Cain tallied the eventual game-winner.
Goalkeeper Maddy Bunnell picked up the victory in net for the Mount, posting a season-high seven saves in the contest. Bunnell now owns a 1.54 goals against average and .762 save percentage in three starts.
The Mount is back in action on Saturday, September 3 for a matchup with Lehigh at 1 p.m. at Waldron Family Stadium.
