DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The fifth-ranked Northwood women's soccer team got two goals from Helen Lynskey in a 3-2 overtime victory over top-ranked Embry-Riddle (8-1-2, 4-1), Friday at the Embry-Riddle Soccer Stadium. Lynskey scored once in the second half and then recorded the golden goal with 2:58 left in the first overtime period to help the Seahawks improve to 9-1-1 overall and 5-0 in Sun Conference play.
The match-up between two top-five teams, who also happen to be conference rivals, promised to be a good one and the fans in attendance were not disappointed. The first half saw a back-and-forth battle with Northwood holding a 4-3 edge in shots, but it was the Eagles who broke through for the first score of the contest.
The play started with
Katherine Ebbs' diving play to save ball from going out of bounds. She managed to get it to
Martine Olsen who played a quick ball to
Valerie Obita streaking down the left side and the ERAU senior hit a low cross toward the far post where Andrea Froshaug was on hand to tap in her fifth goal of the season in 22nd minute.
In the 40th minute, Froshaug was injured as a result of a Northwood foul that sidelined her for the remainder of the contest. The Eagles maintained the one-goal advantage heading into the halftime break, but felt Froshaug's absence as Northwood had the better of the possession to start the second half.
With just over 21 minutes left in the second half, the Seahawks were awarded a free kick. Maria Tornqvist took the free kick from about 25 yards outside the penalty area and lofted a ball into the box where Lynskey headed it just out of ERAU goalkeeper's
Olivia Lynch's reach to pull Northwood level.
The score remained tied until the 79:23 mark when the Eagles pulled ahead once again. A long throw by
Dana Robins landed inside the penalty area where Olsen managed to flick it into the danger zone inside the six-yard box. A pair of Northwood defenders went to ground in an attempt to clear it, but the ball made its way to Obita and the senior tucked a shot into the bottom of the net to reclaim the Eagle lead.
As the clock ran down, it appeared the Eagles would take the win, but with 1:13 left on the clock, the Seahawks equalized again as a missed Eagle clearance on a cross by Louise Anderson ended up in the Eagle net. The own goal made the score 2-2 and sent the game into extra time.
With just under three minutes remaining in the first overtime period, the Seahawks were awarded another free kick, very close to the spot that led to their first goal. This time Lynskey took the set piece herself and buried a shot in the upper right corner to give Northwood the win.
The Eagles will be back in action at 2 p.m. on Sunday when they host Johnson & Wales in another conference fixture at the Embry-Riddle Soccer Stadium.
