NORTON, Mass. - The Worcester State University women's soccer team opened its 2019 season with a 1-1 draw against Wheaton College Friday afternoon at Mirrione Stadium.
With the draw, both teams move to 0-0-1 overall on the season.
The teams played an even opening 45 minutes, with neither team able to crack the scoreboard. Neither team held a decided territorial advantage in the first half, which was reflected by the even 7-7 shot count as the teams went to the locker room.
Wheaton finally broke the ice in the 66th minute, Jenna Palmer recorded the first Lyon goal of the season off a feed from Chloe Troy.
Playing in her first collegiate game, freshman Haley Mignon (Tewksbury, Mass.) netted the equalizer just 6:01 later in the 72nd minute to quickly respond to Wheaton's tally. On what appeared to be a harmless 1-on-2, the two Lyon defenders collided, allowing Mignon to walk in alone on the goalkeeper. The rookie made no mistake on the finish, calmly sliding the ball into the bottom left corner of the cage to level the score at 1-1 and eventually force overtime.
Neither team found the back of the net in the first 10-minute overtime period, but Palmer had the period's best opportunity. With just three seconds remaining, Palmer lobbed the ball in from the right side of the box that looked like it may get over the head over Lancer goalkeeper Ashley Spellman (Lancaster, Mass.), but the junior took a couple steps back to make the save and end the first extra session.
Three minutes into the second overtime period, Spellman came up with yet another massive save to keep the game deadlocked. From point-blank position at the top of the box, Troy fired a rocket toward the top of the frame, but Spellman jumped up to make an athletic save, tipping the ball over the crossbar for a corner kick. Spellman would make another key save off a headed effort off the impending corner.
The two consecutive shots were the only opportunities either side would have in the second extra period, and the game ended in a draw.
Spellman looked stellar in her season debut, making nine saves in the draw, with four of her saves coming in the two overtime periods. Alexa Barbagallo made five saves to oppose Spellman.
Worcester State will be back in action on Tuesday when they play their first game of the season at Coughlin Field, hosting cross-town rival WPI. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.
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