In what turned out to be the championship game of the 2016 women's Division III Mayors Cup, SUNY Oneonta and Ursinus battled to a 1-1 draw giving Oneonta the team title by virtue of a better goal differential during the two-day event. Yesterday, the Red Dragons had defeated St. Joseph's, 5-0, while Ursinus defeated Hartwick 3-1.
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Oneonta (2-2-1) finished the match with a 19-9 advantage in shots including a 5-1 bulge during the two overtime periods.
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Midway through the first overtime, senior
Taylor Messina (Smithtown/Smithtown East) nearly ended the game when she had a shot from in close that deflected off a defender before hitting the post. Later in the period, junior
Rachel Berk (Eastchester/Eastchester) had an opportunity inside the box that was saved by Ursinus keeper Courtney Sullivan.
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Urisinus' only opportunity in the extra periods came at the beginning of the second overtime on a header by Katie Bell. Sophomore keeper
Emilie Mull (Marcy/Whitesboro) was there to make the stop for the Red Dragons. Mull finished the contest with five saves. Her two-day performance earned her the
Tracey Ranieri Defensive MVP.
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Oneonta scored the opening goal of the match in the 26
th minute off one of its six corner kicks. Sophomore Seaver Lipshie was left unmarked in the box and she was able to get her head on a service from senior
Julia Cranz (Huntington/Walt Whitman) and redirect the ball into the back of the goal.
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The Red Dragons took its 1-0 lead and a slim 6-5 advantage in shots into halftime.
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Urisinus (1-2-1) evened the match in the 62
nd minute after a scramble in front of the goal. Sarah Wixted was credited with the goal after she had an initial shot saved by Mull, but was able to get another shot off, which trickled across the goal line. The original attempt came off a cross by Anna Budny.
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Oneonta earned four All-Tournament selections and included Cranz, classmate
Taylor Messina (Smithtown/Smithtown East) and juniors
Kayla Belush (Earlville/Sherburne-Earlville) and
Paige McDermott (Floral Park/Kellenberg Memorial).
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Oneonta will be back in action at home again this Wednesday when they host Hamilton College on Red Dragon Field beginning at 4pm.
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