Eastern University Women's Soccer was unable to find separation from visiting Salisbury for the full 90 minutes of regulation, but Kelsey Doutrich seized a small window of opportunity in the 97th minute to give the Eagles a 1-0 win. Doutrich connected for her 16th this year after a great pass from Kristine Zeiset.
The game started with both teams looking to try to escape the midfield, but both sides struggled to solve the opposing back lines.Eastern had the best opportunity of the first half after Tess Beckwith earned the edge in transition on the left side and slid a pass back into the scoring area. Doutrich was first to the ball, but she had to avoid a defender, and Melissa Orgera was in position to make the save.
Eastern held a 4-3 edge in first half shots, and they took the only four corner kicks of the game before the intermission.
The intensity of the game increased in the second half, but the two defenses were equal to the task. Aly Goodman made a pair of saves in the 59th minute, and Salisbury's Bonnie Sandone lifted a high floating shot from deep that hit the top of the crossbar in the 64th minute.
As the physicality of the game increased it looked as though a restart might determine the outcome, but Orgera turned away a pair of Goodman attempts in the later part of the half. Things took a positive turn in the final minute of regulation as Katie Ruth whipped a dangerous ball into the box, but the Sea Gull defense flocked to the ball to clear it from danger.
The deciding play came after an ambitious volley from a Salisbury forward went high. Alli Inch received Goodman's goal kick at midfield and flipped a pass to Zeiset in a little bit of space just right of the center circle. After a quick touch to clear her feet, Zeiset dropped a 30 yard pass into space. Doutrich, who has now scored in five straight matches, buried her first touch in the lower right corner to lift the Eagles to their 13th win of the year.
"We built our intensity as the game developed," Coach Mouw said, "Salisbury brought great physicality to the game, and we had to match it. As we moved into the overtime, I thought we stepped up. Kristine [Zeiset] showed great leadership in this throughout the day, and we were able to get the result."
The Eagles return to Freedom Conference action at FDU-Florham for their final regular season contest on Saturday night. The winner of that game will earn the top seed in the Freedom Conference Tournament.
