#11 Tartans Fall in OT to #14 Messiah, 2-1

(GRANTHAM, Pa.) – The 11th-ranked Carnegie Mellon University women's soccer team fell in overtime to 14th-ranked Messiah College, 2-1, after leading midway through the first half at Messiah on Saturday, September 16. The Tartans are now 3-1-1 on the season while Messiah moves to 3-1-2.

The Tartans were in the offensive zone early when senior Tori Iatarola (West Dundee, Ill. / Loyola Academy) put the first shot of the game high in the fifth minute. Five minutes later, sophomore Ryan Casey (Pasadena, Calif. / Polytechnic) had a shot blocked by the Messiah defense and then a shot in the 12th minute by freshman Kristen Chong (Fullerton, Calif. / Troy) hit the post.

In the 25th minute, the Tartans earned a corner kick and capitalized when the defense couldn't clear the ball and Casey finished into the corner of the net. The goal was the third of the season for Casey.

The first shot of the game for Messiah came in the second half when Tartan freshman keeper Carolyn Botz (St. Louis, Mo. / Micds) turned her attempt away in the 56th minute.

Chong had another shot attempt in the 62nd minute that was saved by Falcon keeper Lydia Ewing.

Messiah equalized in the 67th minute when Abby Monko finished with a header off a crossing pass to the box by Megan Mansfield.

Two minutes later the Tartans were on the attack again when junior Kaily Bruch (Glenview, Ill. / Glenbrook South) forced Ewing to make a save.

Botz made her second save of the game in the early seconds of the 77th minute and play was contained from 18 to 18 for the remainder of the second half.

Bruch had a shot block in the first thirty seconds of overtime before Messiah was able to put in the game winner in the 96th minute. The score came when Monko chipped a shot over Botz following a rebound off the crossbar from a shot by Julia Kyne.

The Tartans will return home to play Allegheny College on Wednesday, September 20 at 7:00 p.m.