Tartans Win in OT to Move to 5-2

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – The Carnegie Mellon University women's soccer team defeated Allegheny College 2-1 in overtime Wednesday, September 21, at home. The Tartans improve to 5-2, now winning five straight, while the Gators drop to 4-3-1.

Sophomore Rachel Contopoulos (Oakland, Calif./Berkeley) was timely with her third goal of the season, tapping in a volley pass from freshman Savina Reid (Briarcliff Manor, N.Y./Briarcliff) just 3:33 into overtime. With her back facing the goal, Reid volleyed a pass inside the six where Contopoulos was able to reach out and tap it past Gator keeper Emily Karr and the last defender whose attempt to clear it from the line fell short. The attempt on goal came after a corner kick by sophomore Alex Venegas (Los Angeles, Calif./Harvard-Westlake).

The Tartans threatened with a few shots on goal in the first 10 minutes but none pressured the keeper to make a difficult save. In the 38th minute, Venegas and sophomore Cecilia Zischkau (Washington, D.C./Oakcrest) pressured the defense into a poor square pass that Reid was able to pick off. Reid then took a touch forward and was able to chip Allegheny's keeper who charged toward the freshman forward.

Allegheny equalized in the 59th minute when they earned a corner kick. Kira Kliment sent a strike to the near post where Ashley Lehr had a free header for the goal.

Just prior to Allegheny's goal, senior Elsa Wu (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) had a shot go off the crossbar. Then in the 80th minute a shot by Allegheny's Alex Gordon was saved by Tartan keeper Anna Albi (Cincinnati, Ohio/Summit Country Day) and then cleared by sophomore Brittany Couture (Santa Barbara, Calif.) after the ball skipped through Albi's hands.

The Gators nearly put the game away in the 88th minute but a scramble in front of the goal came up bare for the visitors as the Tartan defenders cleared all attempts.

Allegheny had the first opportunity in overtime after winning a free kick near midfield. Dayna Rowe's free kick was cleared by a Tartan defender but right to Lehr whose free shot slid just wide of the post.

The Tartans will travel to Washington & Jefferson on Saturday, September 24, for their next game. Kickooff is scheduled for noon.