FREDERICK, Md.--The Hood College women's soccer team fell to
Neumann College 3-2 in overtime in the second game of the eighth
annual Kim Servedio Memorial Tournament on a rainy Saturday
afternoon at Thomas Athletic Field.
In what was the season opener for both teams, Neumann sophomore
Nicole Christy scored the winning goal just 2:10 into overtime to
spoil the debut of Hood first-year head coach Jen Wood.
Neumann advances to the championship match Sunday at noon and
faces Mississippi College, which used three goals from senior
Jennifer Benson to cruise past Cedar Crest in the tournament's
opening game.
Cedar Crest and Hood meet in the consolation contest Sunday at
10 a.m.
With five freshmen in their starting lineup, the Blazers took a
1-0 lead in the 28th minute on a penalty kick by sophomore Liz
Rakowski. Hood was awarded the kick after freshman Whitney Boyer
was tackled in the box.
Neumann tied the game in the 31st minute on a goal by junior
Casey Geary, but Hood regained the lead in the 41st minute when
Rakowski converted a pass from senior Tamara Maggard. The Blazers
took their 2-1 lead into halftime.
Neumann freshman Kim Rizzo tied the game in the 56th minute when
Hood could not clear a corner kick.
The best chance for either team to win in regulation came in the
78th minute when Hood freshman Nicole Antalffy lofted a shot just
over the crossbar.
Neumann sophomore Kelsey Toomey made 10 saves to collect the
victory. Hood freshman Nina Duron had eight saves in the loss.
In the day's first game, Mississippi scored twice in the first
half and added five more goals in the second half to coast to the
victory.
Benson opened the scoring in the 20th minute off a scrum in
front of the net, and sophomore Lauren Rittner tacked on another
goal in the 42nd minute when she collected a rebound and sent a
shot in from just inside the 18.
Benson sparked Mississippi's second-half scoring spree with a
goal in the first minute of the half. Her mid-range shot hit the
wet grass and skipped past Cedar Crest goalie Antoinette Pizza.
Mississippi added its final three goals in a seven-minute
stretch starting with Benson's third goal of the day in the 62nd
minute.
Mallory Pope made two saves in just over 75 minutes for
Mississippi, which held a commanding 34-2 advantage in shots.
Pizza made 16 saves for Cedar Crest.